Pro-Palestinian vandals defaced a World Heritage listed fountain in Melbourne’s CBD over the weekend, sparking outrage from the local council.
The Hochgurtel Fountain – which sits outside the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens – was targeted by protesters in the early hours of Saturday morning.
City of Melbourne council staff dispatched to inspect the damage found the landmark graffitied with pro-Palestinian slogans including “sanction Israel” and “free Gaza”.
A statue of a child in the centre of the landmark was doused in red paint, and the water dyed a deep blood red.
The city’s Acting Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell said these kinds of acts were unacceptable.
“Taxpayer dollars are being spent on yet another clean up for protesters – this time of the beloved and World Heritage