John Batman statue in Melbourne near Queen Victoria Markets vandalised ahead of Australia Day

A memorial statue erected in honour of John Batman, one of the founders of Melbourne, has been cut in half the day before Australia Day.

Police have cordoned off the area near the Queen Victoria Markets.

John Batman was a Tasmanian farmer who was one of the founders of Melbourne in the 1830s.

The monument appears to have been cut in half, with several large pieces of stone strewn across the ground.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said officers were called to the area on Queen Street following reports the statue had been damaged about 2.20am.

It’s the third vandalism attack in as many days across multiple states aimed at colonial figures.

Prime Ministers Avenue in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens is home to 20 bronze busts of former prime ministers and was severely vandalised in an early morning attack on Thursday.

The busts of former Labor prime ministers Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd are both understood to have been decapitated, with reports suggesting their bronze heads were stolen after the incident.

The remains of the busts have been seen covered with tarpaulins as police investigate.

In another incident on Friday, this time in the inner east suburb of Randwick, police are investigating the vandalism of a statue of James Cook.

The statue, on Belmore Road, was coated in red paint when police arrived on Friday morning following reports of damage.

Multiple items were located at the scene, with police seizing the unknown items as part of their investigation.

“A crime scene has been established, which will be forensically examined by specialist police,” a NSW Police spokesperson said.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.