Activists have drenched a statue of Captain Cook in red paint to kick off their 'Invasion Day' protests.
The statue is located in Catani Gardens in St Kilda, Melbourne and the unmistakable velvet liquid shined bright as the sun rose this morning (January 26).
It's not the first time the monument to Captain Cook has been vandalised and security guards have been called in to protect it in previous years, according to news.com.au.
A person who spotted the vandalism called 3AW Radio and told the host: "Captain Cook is covered in blood again, it's the second time they've done it.
"They've really got him this year. From head to toe. The whole thing has been covered in blood."
Council workers were called in to get rid of the liquid and used high-pressured hoses to remove it. The Daily Mail says the majority of it was gone by 9am.
The move was slammed by people on social media, with one person writing on Facebook: "Some people have no brains, doing this kind of thing wins them no friends, and, you cannot change the past, time to move on."
Another added: "Can you imagine the uproar if an aboriginal statue was treated with this disrespect.This is apart of Australia's history. You can't change history all we can do is learn from it."
A third said: "What is wrong with these people. History is history we can't change it. Go get a job you low life you have to much time on your hands."
Today is Australia Day and while it's meant to be a day to celebrate being Australian, many people find it uneasy to do it on January 26.
It marks the day in 1788 when the First Fleet landed in Port Jackson and serves as a starting point for the abuse, murder and forced assimilation of First Nations people and their cultures.
That's why activists have called it Invasion Day or Survival Day.
Over the past few years, there has been a growing campaign to change the date of Australia Day so that everyone can celebrate the country and be proud to be an Australian.
Many feel it's insensitive to have a public holiday where everyone gets drunk and has fun in the sun when this day is a painful reminder of the past for many First Nations people.
There are several 'Invasion Day' protests that have been planned around the country, however others have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stewart Perrie