Overview

• 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.