Police investigate after vandals target Paradise Falls in north-east Victoria
There are concerns the graffiti will further damage the fragile Indigenous sacred place. (Supplied)
In short:
Vandals have damaged a culturally significant waterfall in north-east Victoria.
Local residents say they discovered the graffiti at Paradise Falls in the Alpine National Park on Sunday.
What's next?
Victoria Police is investigating and appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Vandals have damaged a culturally significant waterfall in north-east Victoria, spraying it with graffiti.
Paradise Falls in the Alpine National Park is about three and a half hours north of Melbourne.
The area, which includes a 31-metre waterfall, sits in the King Valley region and is popular with tourists.
But over the weekend, local residents discovered vandals had damaged a rock face with extensive graffiti.
Local Indigenous woman Kitty Barnett said Paradise Falls was not only a spiritual place but a beautiful piece of Australia.
"I don't think you have to be Indigenous to appreciate the beauty of this area and places like Paradise Falls,"she said.
Police are urging anyone with information about the graffiti to come forward. (Supplied)
Ms Barnett said the community was outraged by the incident.
"You hope when people visit these areas, they will respect them, and it's just devastating when they destroy places that are significant," she said.
"It's just thoughtless, mindless."
Paradise Falls was tagged with graffiti overnight. (Supplied)
Ms Barnett said she was worried about the impact cleaning the graffiti might have on the wall that was already fragile from erosion.
"It's likely to damage the wall even further, which I can't even put into words," she said.
"Why anyone would want to do it? Why anyone could do it is beyond me."
Ms Barnett said she hoped those responsible would come forward.
"I hope they consider what they've done and they own up to it and face whatever consequences are coming to them for it and make it right," she said.
"I think the majority of people that come to our area and visit the sites and beautiful places we have to offer here in the north-east have that respect.
"They may not know the true significance of these places, but they respect them.
Victoria Police say they are investigating after being made aware of the graffiti on Sunday.
In a statement, police said it was believed the graffiti was on a rock face, which was of cultural significance to Indigenous Australian people.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information should call Crime Stoppers.