154-Year-Old Statue Destroyed and Sprayed With Hamas Symbol

Police have declared a crime scene after two statues were targeted, one with heavy machinery. Pioneer Monument and Separation Memorial in Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens are shown after allegedly being vandalised and defaced in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 22, 2026. AAP Image/Callum Godde1/21/2026|Updated: 1/21/2026A 154-year-old monument in Victoria has been destroyed and vandalised with the words, “death to Australia” and “land back,” accompanied by the red triangle symbol for terror group Hamas.A a second statue was also defaced with red paint.Crystal-Rose Jones is a reporter based in Australia. She previously worked at News Corp for 16 years as a senior journalist and editor.Author’s Selected Articles