Two historic statues suffered at the hands of vandals in Melbourne on the eve of Australia Day

On the eve of Australia Day, vandals damaged two historic statues in Melbourne. As a result, one of the monuments was chipped in half, the Herald Sun reported on January 25.

The statue of John Batman, one of Melbourne's founders and pioneers, sustained the most damage. It was literally split in two halves.

A monument dedicated to the heroes of the Australian and New Zealand Military Corps was also desecrated. The statue was daubed with red paint and inscribed with the words "take back the land" and "the colony will fall".

Police said they were already investigating the case, although they did not link the two acts of vandalism to each other.

"Anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact by phone or send a confidential message online," the newspaper quoted the city police as saying.

The vandalism came amid major Australia Day protests expected in Melbourne on Sunday, January 26. Protesters, including representatives of the country's indigenous peoples, are calling for Australia Day not to be celebrated, calling the national holiday "Occupation Day."

A similar incident occurred in 2017 when vandals vandalized the Captain Cook monument and a number of other monuments in Sydney. Unknown people wrote on the pedestal: "Change the date" and "Nothing to be proud of genocide". The debate on the issue in the country

has been a long-running debate in the country. Three municipalities have refused to celebrate Australia Day. For the indigenous population, it symbolizes the beginning of colonization.