Vanished Victoria: St Peter the Apostle statue in Hoppers Crossing

Sunday, January 25, 2026

St Peter the Apostle statue in Hoppers Crossing

In an act of cultural vandalism in June 2025 the statue of St Peter the Apostle was stolen from his plinth at the St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Hoppers Crossing. The statue, by sculptor Louis Laumen, was installed in 1999, and there was an attempt to steal it in 2014, when thieves dragged it for a short distance and then abandoned it. The statue was re-modelled by the sculptor and reinstalled. However, on June 17, 2025, the statue was cut off at the ankles and stolen.

As Wyndham TV reported The statue, a long-standing fixture of the church grounds, holds significant religious and emotional value for the congregation. The way it was removed has left many disturbed.

The remains of the statue after it was stolen in June 2025.

Image: St Peter Apostle Mission Parish Facebook post of 18/6/2025

This is yet another example of wanton destruction of a work of art which was well liked and respected by the community. The perpetrators show no respect to the community or to the sculptor, Louis Laumen, who is known for both his religious statues and his Parade of Champions statues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

This story does have a satisfactory ending, as the statue has been recently restored to the Church community. The Facebook page of the Church announced on January 23, 2026 that the statue has been replaced. It doesn't say whether it is the restored stolen statue or a new casting.