The sign appeared on the fence outside St Paul's Anglican Cathedral, where the Captain Cook monument stands, overnight.

Shaped like a scroll of parchment, the sign says "Change the Date".

It was affixed to the fence directly below the statue, which was erected in 1906 by bequest of parishioner John Emery.

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A concerned Bendigo resident said they intended the sign to encourage the growing conversation in the community about the appropriateness of January 26 as a day of national celebration.

"For some people, January 26 is a day of pride and celebration. For many, it is a day of pain, but also a day to recognise the survival of First Nations communities through waves of dispossession," the resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

"Although I take pride in the resilience of many of my forebears, it is not difficult for me to see that January 26 is a day of mourning for many."

"It's hard for January 26 to stand as a unifying day of national celebration because a deep indignity and unresolved trauma lies at its heart."

A young woman brought to Sydney Cove as a convict on the First Fleet was among the resident's forebears.

"However you approach January 26 and reflect upon the history that it marks, people should take the occasion seriously," the resident said.

"Reflect on the day's layers of meaning and explore what events may be on near you that engage with the complexity of the anniversary."

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The resident hoped the church would not be offended by their gesture, but would continue to engage with the issue.

The Very Reverend Elizabeth Dyke, dean of St Paul's Anglican Cathedral Bendigo, said she was sad the sign was put on the fence without asking.

"No doubt there are some people around who would find that [sign] offensive, and some people who would stand up and applaud it," Dean Elizabeth said.

The cathedral community has been promoting Common Grace's Change the Heart project, with some members joining the initiative's leaders in prayer yesterday.

The community's prayers continued in today's local service, giving thanks for Australia and working towards healing.

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Church members showed they stood in solidarity with First Nations people through a photographic initiative on social media, which is part of the Change the Heart project.

"We are very much concerned to see our Aboriginal brothers and sisters fully included in all the benefits of our wonderful country of Australia," Dean Elizabeth said.

"I have a great deal of sympathy with the need to change the date of Australia Day from a day that is a painful day for our Aboriginal community... to a date where the whole community can celebrate the benefits and the blessings of living in this wonderful land we call Australia."

But she said changing the date was not the only action that needed to be taken.

"It's a step, but it's not the whole journey," Dean Elizabeth said.

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The resident responsible for the sign contemplated when might be a better date for Australia Day.

"The truth is that Australia may not yet have a unifying day that appropriately recognises the sovereignty of First Nations," they said.

"Perhaps that day will be the anniversary of a national Makarrata."

They said the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart advocated for a Makaratta, or coming together after a struggle, to mark the culmination of a truth-telling process about Australia's history.

January 26 marks the arrival of First Fleet commander Captain Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove in 1788, where he raised the Union Jack and founded the colony.

Captain James Cook had claimed Australia's east coast for Great Britain 18 years earlier.

There were calls for Bendigo's statue of Captain Cook to be removed last year, as anti-racism movements swelled worldwide.

The monument remains on the cathedral grounds due to a heritage order.

The statue has been used in previous years to show support for action on issues like climate change and inclusion, using costuming.