A statue honoring John Batman, the founder of modern-day Melbourne, was cut in half in an act of vandalism ahead of Australia Day.
The John Batman Memorial, located on Queen Street near the Queen Victoria Market, was targeted at approximately 2:20 am, according to police.
This incident follows similar acts of vandalism, including damage to the busts of former Australian prime ministers in Ballarat and a defaced Captain Cook statue in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The Batman statue was removed from its plinth and extensively damaged, with security guards seen collecting its broken pieces.
Erected in 1881, the statue is a significant historical landmark, and police have confirmed an ongoing investigation into the incident.
