Colonial memorials vandalised in city gardens
Vandals toppled a monument to Victoria’s first colonial settlers in Flagstaff Gardens and marked a second monument in the same CBD park with red paint.
Police said they believe vandals used machinery to demolish the stone First Pioneers Monument around 5 a.m. Thursday, causing it to break into several pieces.
The words “go back” and “death to Australia” were written on a broken piece of stone and on the steps of the monument commemorating the cemetery of early colonial settlers.
The Separation Monument, erected in Flagstaff gardens to mark the 100th anniversary of Victoria’s separation from New South Wales, was also vandalized with red paint.
Victoria Police said: “The crime scene has been located and the investigation is ongoing.”
There have been many similar acts of vandalism in previous years, targeting Melbourne monuments and statues that left their mark on Australia’s colonial history.
In 2024, the statue of Captain James Cook in St Kilda’s Catani Gardens was cut off from its ankles and the words “the colony will fall” were spray-painted on its base. The same statue was painted red in 2022.
The statue was placed under the surveillance of security guards ahead of Australia Day last year.
In May 2025 the Fitzroy North Cook monument in Edinburgh Gardens was removed by the City of Yarra following repeated acts of vandalism.
A council report said frequent attacks, particularly around Australia Day, had caused irreparable damage to the bust of James Cook’s face and meant the council was pouring more and more money into maintaining the memorial.
The Early Pioneers Monument was erected by Samuel Craven in Flagstaff Gardens in 1871 to honor some of the colony’s earliest pioneers, whose remains were buried near the monument site.
The gardens were high ground from which early colonists could view incoming ships.
The Separation Monument, artist unknown, was erected nearby in 1950 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Victoria’s separation from New South Wales in 1851.
Anyone who witnessed the incident in Flagstaff Gardens and has information about the area or has CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online to: www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
