Police are hunting for a woman who allegedly set an Australian flag on fire in the war memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park on Wednesday.
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Superintendent Mark Walton, of City Central Local Area Command, said the woman stepped into a roped-off room inside the memorial and lowered the flag into the flame of remembrance about 12.40pm.
A small fire was started and extinguished by memorial staff.
Security footage of the incident shows a woman of caucasian appearance, aged between 35 and 45, with fair, shoulder-length hair. The woman is wearing black ballet pumps and a short black and white dress with black sleeves.
Superintendent Walton said police are investigating the incident as an act of malicious damage.
He said no contact had been made with the woman before or after the incident and her motive was unknown.
Members of the public were inside the memorial at the time but none has been able to provide detailed descriptions of the offender.
"The ANZAC Memorial is dedicated to all Australians who served their country in war and it's quite distressing that this incident has occurred at such a sacred property today," Superintendent Walton said.
Minister for Veterans Affairs Victor Dominello condemned the act.
"Not only is this criminal behaviour, it's deeply disrespectful of the memorial and all it represents," Mr Dominello said.
"It is deeply concerning that any person would seek to desecrate the Australian flag. Doing so on this sacred site makes it all the more reprehensible."
NSW RSL president Don Rowe also denounced the act.
"Veterans and their families will be outraged by this attack on a sacred monument," Mr Rowe said.
"I urge members of the public who may have further information about this act of desecration which took place at Hyde Park today to contact NSW Police."
Flag burning or desecration is not illegal in Australia. Bills aimed at making flag burning illegal, introduced in 2003 and 2008, have failed to pass the Senate.
The company responsible for security at the war memorial, Red Dawn, declined to comment.
It describes the memorial as "a prestigious monument of significant historical interest" on its website.
"We are proud to be the provider of choice for such an iconic memorial."
Built in 1934, the memorial is the largest of its kind in Sydney and hosts ceremonies on Anzac and Armistice day.
The memorial remained closed on Wednesday afternoon as police investigated the incident.
War Memorial remains closed off, after an Australian flag was set alight in the Flame of Remembrance @NewsTalk2UE pic.twitter.com/u8sNh2lRNT — Leonie Ryan (@LeonieFRyan) October 1, 2014