Captain Cook statue vandalised in Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne

The Captain Cook sculpture had been reinstalled only weeks prior after another vandalism incident.

Police are investigating after vandals attempted to behead a statue of Captain Cook just two weeks after it was reinstalled in East Melbourne.

It is believed two offenders spray-painted the 18th-century English cottage and damaged the bronze statue in Fitzroy Gardens at about 2am on Tuesday.

The cottage had been spray painted with “anti-Cook” comments. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

A Victoria Police spokesman said the hut was defaced with various “anti-Cook” comments.

The paint has since been cleaned off the cottage.

The statue of Captain Cook also stands in the gardens and was damaged in attempts to cut off its head.

The vandalism comes just two weeks after the statue of Captain Cook was returned to the gardens after repairs. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Police were alerted to the criminal damage by security patrols.

The statue had recently been reinstalled after vandals targeted it in February last year, where it had been sawn off at the ankles and toppled.

The cottage was built in 1755 by the parents of Captain James Cook, while the statue was unveiled in 1974 and later donated to Fitzroy Gardens.

More to come.