A historic war memorial in Melbourne’s northeast has been defaced with red paint and anti-Australia Day graffiti, triggering anger and distress among veterans and the local community, just one day after pro-Hamas symbols were sprayed on monuments in the city’s CBD.
The Eltham War Memorial, which was unveiled in August 1919 to honour local soldiers who died in World War I, was vandalised overnight on Thursday. Red paint was poured over the stone obelisk, leaving it dripping down the structure, while slogans were scrawled across plaques and the base of the monument.
One plaque was defaced with the words “LEST WE FORGET THE FRONTIER WARS!”, while additional anti-Australia Day messages were sprayed at the base. Several names engraved on the memorial were reportedly chipped, and plaques damaged.
Local veteran Glen Ferrarotto said he discovered the damage at about 9am on Friday and described the act as “desecration”, not simple vandalism.
“This isn’t graffiti — it’s the desecration of an Australian war memorial,” Mr Ferrarotto said. “It’s absolutely gut-wrenching. As veterans, we serve in memory of those who fell, including Indigenous soldiers who gave their lives for this country.”
He rejected claims that the attack honoured Indigenous service, saying no Indigenous veterans would support such destruction, and called on governments to move beyond “lip service” in confronting politically motivated vandalism.
The attack follows a disturbing escalation across Melbourne. On Wednesday night, two monuments in Flagstaff Gardens were destroyed and vandalised with inverted red triangles — a symbol associated with Hamas — an incident Jewish leaders described as “psychological terror”.
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny condemned the attacks as “atrocious” and warned offenders would face the full force of the law. Victorian legislation banning the public display of terrorist symbols, including those linked to Hamas, came into force late last year.
With Australia Day approaching, Ms Kilkenny urged peaceful expression, warning that vandalism and intimidation would not be tolerated.
