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Captain Cook Memorial Permanently Removed After Costly Vandalism

Yarra City Council decided to dismantle the monument, citing economic concerns and repeated defacement, with its plaques set to be preserved by the Captain Cook Society.

People walk near a traffic cone where a monument of British explorer Capt. James Cook once stood before it was removed following continued vandalism at a park Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
A traffic cone sits where a monument of British explorer Capt. James Cook once stood before it was removed following continued vandalism at a park Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
A person jogs near a traffic cone where a monument of British explorer Capt. James Cook once stood before it was removed following continued vandalism at a park Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
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Overview

  • The Captain Cook memorial in Melbourne's Edinburgh Gardens was permanently removed following a unanimous vote by the Yarra City Council on May 13, 2025.
  • The decision was driven by the high cost of repairs, with over AU$100,000 spent on maintenance over 25 years and a recent AU$15,000 repair estimate after catastrophic vandalism in January 2024.
  • The council deemed the monument to have 'little or no significance' and prioritized conservation efforts elsewhere, noting its contentious symbolism tied to colonial history.
  • The bronze plaques from the memorial will be transferred to the Captain Cook Society, which is exploring options for their future display in a museum or other institution.
  • Mayor Stephen Jolly emphasized the decision as an economic, not ideological, one, rejecting claims that the council was yielding to vandals.