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Bourke Street Tragedy Print Page 
The memorial plaques commemorate the six people who lost their lives and those who were injured or affected by the Bourke Street Tragedy which occurred on the 20th January 2017. One plaque is at the base of the water fountain and the other is located on a seat in the Parliament Gardens and was unveiled on the first anniversary of the tragedy. The plaque also recognises those who were injured and affected by the tragedy.
Police alleged that the victims were intentionally hit, and charged the driver of the vehicle, Dimitrious Gargasoulas, with six counts of murder. The maroon Holden Commodore sedan used in the attack was stolen from a man who lived in the same block of flats as Gargasoulas. Upon being interviewed, the car owner alleged that on the night of 18 January 2017, Gargasoulas entered his flat with a bible, sat down, started burning it and threw it into his face. After this, he said that he flicked it on the floor and was then punched by Gargasoulas.
It is alleged that Gargasoulas stabbed his brother in a flat in Windsor in the early hours of 20 January 2017, leaving the brother in critical condition. He then took his pregnant girlfriend hostage who was later released on the Bolte Bridge.
Gargasoulas began driving and behaving erratically at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets, outside the entrance to Flinders street Railway Station. Two men, Year 12 student Tevita Mahina and his cousin Isaac Tupou, attempted to stop him, hitting the windscreen with a baseball bat. Gargasoulas continued north-bound up Swanston Street`s western-side footpath at speed towards the Bourke Street Mall, turned left onto Bourke Street's southern-side footpath and struck more than 20 pedestrians.
Victoria Police officers stopped the car by ramming it near AMP Square at 555 Bourke Street and shot Gargasoulas in the arm during his arrest. A child and two adults died at the scene, another man died in hospital before the end of the day, and a three-month-old baby boy died the evening after the attack. A sixth person died on 30 January.
Location
| Address: | Spring Street, Parliament Gardens Reserve , East Melbourne, 3002 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.809827 Long: 144.973486 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Crime |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 20-January-2017 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 20-January-2017 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 20th January, 2018 |
|---|
In memory of those
whose lives were lost
in Bourke Street on
20 January 2017
and in recognition of
others who were injured
or affected by this tragedy.
