Captain Cook vandals roundly condemned (except by Greens, of course)

The vandalism attack has been condemned by the NSW Premier and Randwick councillors. While a Greens councillor says its ‘time to look at other options’.

A Captain Cook statue in Randwick was vandalised and damaged on Thursday night just two days ahead of Australia Day. Picture: Julian Andrews

A Sydney Greens councillor says a statue of Captain Cook is a “painful reminder of the devastating impacts of colonialism” and has urged its council to “look at other options” after it was vandalised.

Police are investigating after the Captain Cook statue in Sydney’s east was doused in red paint and disfigured for the second year in a row ahead of Australia Day.

The statue in Randwick, which sits atop a pylon that reads “Captain James Cook … Erected by Captain Thomas Watson 27th October 1874”, had its face and hand ripped off in the attack, with splashes of red paint strewn across it.

The attack has been condemned by the NSW Premier, Randwick’s Labor mayor and a number of Liberal councillors, including one who labelled the vandals “low lives”.

However Greens councillor Philipa Veitch said it was “time to look at other options”.

“The statue is a painful reminder of the devastating impacts of colonisation, which continues to this day,” she said in a statement.

“It’s time to look at other options, including its placement in a museum. I’m sure there are many local artists who could be commissioned to create a much more appropriate and inclusive work.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns said “national days are important for the state and for the country” as he condemned the attack, adding “there is no tolerance for vandalism”.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker also said he “condemns this vandalism of the heritage Captain Cook statue”.

“Vandalism has no place in public discussion,” the Labor Mayor said.

“Vandalism is an illegal act that does a disservice to progressing your cause, a disservice to the community and a disservice to reconciliation. Council will clean and restore the statue. The statue was cleaned and restored last year after a similar incident in February 2024.”

The base of the statue. Picture: Julian Andrews

Councillor Andrew Hay said “Low lives in Randwick know no bounds, or have any reverence for great people of history, and will vandalise him to make a political point that he’s not directly related to.”

Councillor Bill Burst called the vandalism “disgraceful!” and vowed to restore the monument with other Liberal councillors.

NSW Police said an investigation was underway into the damaged statue and asked the public for assistance.

“About 8.15am today (Friday 24 January 2025), officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command responded to reports of a statue damaged and vandalised with graffiti on Belmore Road, Randwick,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“A number of items at the location have been seized by police.

“A crime scene has been established, which will be forensically examined by specialist police.

“Police are working with Randwick Council to assist with the removal of the graffiti.”