Mayor Paul Toole confirmed that he had come across the damaged Holterman replica that has gone to be repaired before it is put back in place.

It was the second monument to be removed from its foundations, following on from the demise some months earlier of the 9th Division Broken Blade a huge lump of granite that fell and smashed after being pushed at the entrance to the War Memorial Entertainment Centre.

"Vandals were active about three weeks ago, I came across the nugget broken from its foundations in the fountain" Cr Toole said.

"I was attending the Bathurst Eisteddfod and noticed the nugget had been pulled out of the bottom of the fountain, it was just lying there.

"The replica of the nugget was removed by council to ensure it was not carried away. Council has sent it for repair, the fountain will be restored as soon as possible."

The Holterman Fountain was a Rotary service club project. A plaque at the fountain tells the story of the discovery of the massive gold nugget at Hill End in 1872, the largest gold specimen ever found weighing 286 kilograms [630lbs] 1,448cm tall [4'9''] 66cm wide [2'2''] with average thickness 10cm [4''].

When it was discovered the nugget was valued at 12,000 pounds. At today's current gold prices of $837 per ounce gold in the Holterman nugget would be worth $8,437,000 in round figures.

Cr Toole said it was disappointing that monuments and memorials were becoming targets of vandals.

As he was discussing the fate of the fountain it was apparent an object had been thrown and cracked the glass face of the town clock, on the same Civic Centre corner as the fountain at William and Russell Streets.