Captain Cook Statue in Sydney Vandalized Ahead of Australia Day

The statue was splashed with red paint, and parts of its face and hand were damaged, reigniting debates about its colonial legacy.

A statue of Captain James Cook in Randwick, Sydney, was vandalized with red paint and had its hand and parts of its face damaged two days before Australia Day.
This is the second consecutive year the statue has been defaced; similar incidents have targeted other Cook statues across Australia in recent years.
Australia Day, observed on January 26, is divisive, with Indigenous groups referring to it as 'Invasion Day' and holding protests to highlight the impacts of colonization.
Randwick City Council plans to restore the heritage-listed statue, although repairs are expected to take weeks and will involve significant costs to ratepayers.
Police are investigating the incident, having seized items at the scene, and are urging the public to report suspicious behavior around monuments during the long weekend.