Aboriginal graffiti artist remorseful for sacred site desecration

The vandalism at Paradise Falls occured in early May 2025. (Supplied) David James Allen, 25, has avoided jail after pleading guilty to criminal and wilful damage of a culturally significant site. The Wangaratta Magistrates' Court heard Allen, who also identified as an Aboriginal man, had felt embarrassed after finding out he had vandalised a sacred site in Victoria's Alpine National Park. The court heard the clean-up was still ongoing and the repair bill had not yet been determined, but would "be large". Link copiedShareShare articleA Victorian court has heard that a man who identifies as Aboriginal is embarrassed after pleading guilty to vandalising a culturally significant site in the Alpine National Park. David James Allen, 25, appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates' Court today and was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order and 240 hours of community work. He pleaded guilty in April to wilful and criminal damage relating to vandalism at Paradise Falls on Taungurung country, south east of Wangaratta. David James Allen plead guilty to vandalising a sacred site at Paradise Falls. (ABC News: Philippe Perez) Prosecutors told the court that on May 2, 2025, Allen, with another man, Jarrod Waddington, travelled to the site from Hastings and sprayed graffiti measuring 10 metres wide and two metres high. The court heard he wanted to vandalise the site "for the aesthetic purpose of having a photo of their graffiti tags with a waterfall running in front of them," even though the area was dry at the time, and the waterfall was not running. A victim impact statement read to the court from traditional owner and the chair of the Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC), Kaley Nicholson, told of the significant values of the site due to dreaming stories associated with the area "It features natural shelter where women's business can take place, and where archaeological materials such as tools that evidence [of] occupancy can be found," Ms Nicholson said. The graffiti was discovered on at the culturally significant site on May 12 2025. (Supplied) In her statement, Ms Nicholson said that ongoing specialised conservation approaches would be needed due to the sensitive nature of the conglomerate rock surface at the site. "From these conversations about rectifying the damage, I was feeling bewildered, as it is a problem we had no part in creating, but we are now required to figure out how to fix," she said. The court heard that as of February, the repair process had not been completed. Prosecutors told the court that the cost of the clean-up has not yet been determined, but "it's going to be large". The court heard the cost of repair for Paradise Falls had not been determined. (ABC News: Philippe Perez) The court heard Allen had been struggling to find housing since 2023 and had been dealing with depression. He also had a criminal history related to graffiti and theft. In his remarks, Magistrate Ian Watkins said Allen had "seriously underestimated the seriousness of the criminal damage at Paradise Falls". Lawyers for Allen said he also identified as an Aboriginal person but did not have an active connection to his Aboriginality due to family circumstances. The court heard he was embarrassed by what he had done after finding out that he had vandalised a sacred site. David Allen outside the Wangaratta Magistrates' Court. (ABC News: Philippe Perez) Soon after the graffiti was discovered, police investigators found an "apology" posted to Allen's Instagram account. Magistrate Watkins said Allen's judgement was impaired by his previous use of methylamphetamine and cannabis. "You're not connected to your culture, but I hope [you change] that and make good … to your people the insult and injury to them by this desecration of a sacred site," the magistrate said. Co-accused Waddington was also due to appear at Wangaratta Magistrates' Court, but his matter was adjourned until July 20. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesHantavirus-hit cruise ship passengers to quarantine in PerthTopic:Explainer

Aboriginal graffiti artist remorseful for sacred site desecration

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