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Headless King George V

This statue of King George V was beheaded as a protest of colonialism.

Melbourne, Australia

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The monument was unveiled in 1952 to commemorate King George V who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.

The statue is located in Kings Domain Park and stands at the entrance to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. 

In 2024, days before the Kings Birthday Public holiday, the statue was beheaded and covered in red paint as a protest of colonialism in Australia. The head was stolen and has not been recovered. 

Since then, King George’s head has turned up numerous times on social media including being grilled on a BBQ and on stage at a Kneecap Concert. There are no plans to restore the statue. Instead King George now stands headless on his monument. 

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The monument is located in Kings Domain, a large park complex south of the Melbourne CBD. It is located near the entrance to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and is near the Botanical Gardens and the National Gallery of Victoria. 

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Published

February 10, 2026

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