Lord Mayor moves to curb vandalism of Melbourne’s statues and memorials

Lord Mayor Nick Reece will push for stronger protections for Melbourne’s statues, monuments and memorials amid growing concern about repeated acts of vandalism across the municipality.

The notice of motion, which was considered at the February 2 Future Melbourne Committee meeting after Inner City News published its February edition, calls for a more proactive and coordinated approach to safeguarding civic monuments, including increased security, targeted protective measures and faster repair and reinstatement when damage occurs.

Under the proposal backed by Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell, councillors will be asked to affirm that statues and memorials form an important part of Melbourne’s civic, cultural and historical fabric, and should not be left in a degraded state for extended periods after being vandalised. Instead, the motion argues they should be repaired and reinstated as quickly as possible to avoid normalising damage in the public realm.

The motion also requests council management increase on-site security and CCTV coverage during periods of heightened risk and consider expanding protective measures at high-risk locations. These could include temporary cyclone fencing or enhanced surveillance around statues and memorials that have been repeatedly targeted.

While short-term security measures have been implemented during higher-risk periods, there remains a need for an updated policy framework that affirms Council’s approach to repair and reinstatement, strengthens deterrence, and ensures accountability where damage occurs," the motion read.

As part of a tougher stance on accountability, the Lord Mayor is seeking closer monitoring of police investigations into damage to monuments, and where appropriate, the recovery of repair or reinstatement costs from those responsible.

Several high-profile incidents over the past two years referenced in the motion included vandalism to the King George V memorial in King’s Domain, the Captain Cook statue in Fitzroy Gardens, the Queen Victoria statue in Queen Victoria Gardens, the Zelda D’Aprano statue outside Trades Hall, and the World Heritage-listed Hochgurtel Fountain in Carlton Gardens. According to the motion, these incidents have led to increased community concern, added costs for ratepayers and taxpayers, and additional demands on police and council resources.

If supported, the motion would also accelerate work on a comprehensive Statues and Memorials Policy, to be finalised and presented to council by April 2026. The policy would include clearer deterrence mechanisms and a decision-making framework for how contested monuments are displayed and interpreted, particularly where they are repeatedly targeted.

Council management would also be required to provide an update by April on repair timelines for several vandalised statues, including those of Vida Goldstein, Burke and Wills, and King George V.

The motion frames vandalism as an issue that should not be “rewarded through inaction”, while emphasising that any removal or alteration of statues must occur through democratic processes, informed by community consultation and council resolution. •