Police have begun investigating the vandalism of a 72-year-old statue of King George after it was decapitated and graffitied on the King’s Birthday public holiday.
Hobart City Councillor Louise Elliott says the statue of William Crowther being toppled in Hobart’s Franklin Square symbolises the “many things wrong with today’s society”.
“This is a real low point for Tasmania, a really sad day for Hobart in my perspective,” she said.
“I was really emotional seeing that on the ground this morning, it’s so symbolic of so many things that are wrong with today’s society.
“It seems there’s a huge double standard in place where only some people’s hurt and offence matters, only some people’s history and culture matters, and only some people’s history and culture is worth saving.”
Police have launched investigations into the vandalism after they were called to the monument at about 9am on Monday after receiving reports of damage.
Victoria Police told SkyNews.com.au: “Officers were called to the King George statue in Kings Domain on Linlithgow Avenue after it was found damaged on Monday 10 June about 9am.”
“It appears the head of the statue has been removed and red paint thrown at the monument,” a police spokeswoman said.
An X/Twitter user has uploaded a photo of the “red and headless” statue on Monday. Picture: Twitter
A joint video posted by Instagram accounts – Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance as well as Disrupt Wars – has shown a person using a saw to cut the statue’s head off.
The video – to the tune of “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols – shows the decapitated head of King George lying on the ground with the caption “Happy Birthday motherf***er”.
The vandals also appeared to cover the headless statue in red spray paint and wrote “the colony will fall” in sloppy handwriting.
Commenters on the video have praised the act and said “You all are amazing in your resistance” and “End of colonialism everywhere in the world! End of white supremacy”.
Disrupt Wars is an account owned by the organization Wage Peace which claims to be “a passionate crew from across Australia” dedicated to “creative nonviolence”.
“We jump on tanks, blockade weapons factories, occupy arms dealers’ offices and reclaim military bases,” the group says online.
While the page does not show any instances of reclaimed military bases, there are dozens of posts showing pro-Palestine protests and graffiti.
The vandals also graffitied the statue and wrote “the colony will fall” across the front. Picture: Instagram
A video of the event has been posted to Instagram by accounts @aka.waca and @disruptwars Picture: Instagram
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The phrase “the colony will fall” seen on the King George statue on Monday has been used several times in recent instances of defaced statues.
A century-old Geelong statue of Queen Victoria was toppled using car winches in March with “the colony will fall” graffitied across it.
Similar incidents involving British monarchs and colonial figures have been recorded across Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra.
Police have urged anyone with information regarding the King George Statue in Melbourne to contact Crime Stoppers.
The 72-year-old statue was erected in 1952 and was funded through public subscription and by the council.