A statue of Captain James Cook in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been splashed with red paint and its hand removed days before Australians celebrate their controversial “Australia Day” on Sunday.

A statue in Sydney of British explorer James Cook, captain of the first Western ship ... of Australia, was sprayed with red paint and damaged two days before Australia's national day, authorities ...

The four spears were taken by Captain Cook's crew during their first contact with Australia in 1770. Captain Cook Square is being redeveloped into a leisure destination to attract new businesses.