Statues of Former Australian Prime Ministers Decapitated in Ballarat Vandalism

Two bronze busts were stolen and 18 others defaced in an attack on the historic Prime Ministers Avenue days before Australia Day.

The heads of bronze statues depicting former prime ministers Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd were stolen from the Ballarat Botanical Gardens early Thursday morning.
Eighteen additional statues in the Prime Ministers Avenue were defaced with spray paint, and the total damage is estimated to exceed $140,000.
The vandalism occurred between 2am and 5am, with police urging witnesses to report any suspicious activity in the area.
The Prime Ministers Avenue, a nationally significant site featuring busts of all Australian prime ministers since 1940, has faced repeated vandalism incidents in recent years.
Local officials and the sculptor of several busts expressed deep disappointment, calling the act a severe blow to the Ballarat community and its cultural heritage.