Queen Victoria statue toppling captured on video

CLIMATE activists have posted a video showing the toppling of a Queen Victoria statue in Geelong’s eastern gardens last week, triggering a police investigation.

The Climate Resistance Youth Network (CRYN), which shared the video on their Instagram page, says they received the video from an anonymous source.

The incident occurred nearly two weeks after the statue was vandalised, covered in red paint, with “the colony will fall” written on its plinth.

This act is part of a global trend where statues representing historical figures and colonial legacies are targeted by activists.

Earlier this year, three Captain Cook statues in Melbourne were attacked.

In St Kilda, a Captain Cook statue was cut at the ankles on Australia Day eve with the same message painted on its plinth.

In the past, groups have claimed to target these monuments to challenge the narratives they represent.

The reason for targeting Queen Victoria specifically has not been detailed, but activists and academics often view climate protests through an intersectional lens that includes interconnected social and environmental injustices.

These incidents have ignited discussions about public art’s role and its representation of diverse histories and identities.

Deputy Prime Minister and federal member for Corio, Richard Marles, said while historical monuments should be respected, it’s important for Australia to tell its whole history.

“As we think about our history, we are thinking about the place that Indigenous Australians, the oldest indigenous culture in the world, have had in our history,” he said.

“Our history didn’t begin in 1788 and we are so lucky as a country to have that culture here.”

North Geelong resident Noella was less circumspect.

“If anyone steals or knocks these lovely statues down that mean something, cut off one hand, and then if they do it again, chop off the other one,” she said while walking in Eastern Gardens.

Exerciser Sarah said there were better ways to get the message across.

“I am a Republican, so I agree with the sentiment, I just think there are other ways to go about it,” she said.

In response to global conversations about representation, the City of Greater Geelong has been reassessing its approach to public art.

Initiatives include the IAM project, which celebrates artists with disabilities, and the Women’s Street Art Commissions, spotlighting female artists.

Additionally, the “Don’t Forget About Me” mural in Norlane, led by First Nations artists, highlights the importance of involving the community in art projects.

Executive director placemaking Tennille Bradley said public art plays an important role in celebrating and building the unique character of the Geelong.

“In recent years we’ve had a focus on supporting public art projects that help to reflect a wider range of the people and cultures who make Geelong what it is today,” she said.

Geelong is home to 17 statues and monuments, honouring figures like Matthew Flinders, John Batman, and King George V.

The toppled Queen Victoria statue, standing for 112 years, was the only statue in Geelong representing a woman.