Wollongong's historic lighthouse damaged during overnight graffiti attack

An overnight graffiti attack at the base of the breakwater lighthouse, has left large, black tags and words including: "Free Mers now, not later" and "f**k Gong cops".

"4211 Qld" is also written. This is the postcode for areas west of the Gold Coast including Nerang, Carrara, Pacific Pines, Gold Coast and Highland Park.

Mers and Krek are UK graffiti artists who were jailed in 2007 for causing £13,000 ($24,000 AUD at the time) of damage to railway trains and bridges in Manchester.

Thomas Whittaker and Thomas Dolan, then aged 18 and 20, were jailed for 12 and 15 months respectively, and it ignited a global campaign from supporters to free them.

Regardless of the meaning behind the graffiti, locals and Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery slammed the attack on the historic lighthouse which was built in 1871.

Wollongong fisherman Quoc Nguyen is at the breakwall most mornings hoping to reel in a fish, and he's angry someone graffitied such an iconic symbol of Wollongong.

"It's not acceptable for graffiti to be on the lighthouse because it's historic," he said. "This is the most attractive place in Wollongong."

Wollongong man Marty Morris said the graffiti is not a good look for Wollongong.

"Visitors will come and think it's great down here but 'how's the graffiti'," he said.

Mr Morris said the vandals are destroying part of the city's history.

"It's a cheap thrill [for the vandal] they're going to paint over it," he said.

Councillor Bradbery said he's "disgusted by people who think they've got he right to deface public assets".

"I can't understand the reality of people who think they have the right to deface public assets like this," he said.

"It costs council and the state government to clean it up. It's another cost on the community and resources that are taken away."

The Mercury understands the lighthouse is a NSW Government asset, however council staff quickly painted over the graffiti on Thursday.

There is no graffiti on the Flagstaff Hill lighthouse.

Wollongong is the only point on the eastern coast of Australia which has two lighthouses.

The old lighthouse at the end of the breakwater was designed by Edward Orphan Moriarty, the engineer-in-chief of the Harbours and Rivers Department NSW.