Home Australia Heads of Prime Minister statues are severed, stolen by vandals during spree in Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Heads of Prime Minister statues are severed, stolen by vandals during spree in Ballarat Botanical Gardens

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Dozens of sculptures displayed on Prime Ministers Avenue at the Ballarat Botanic Gardens (pictured) were damaged by vandals during the early hours of Thursday morning

The heads of two statues of the Australian Prime Minister have been decapitated among 20 damaged sculptures as police search for the vandals responsible.

Police were told the busts were vandalized on Prime Ministers Avenue at Ballarat Botanic Gardens between 2am and 5am on Thursday.

The heads of two statues, of former Labor prime ministers Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd, were reportedly removed and stolen, police said.

The name plates of the remaining 18 statues have been covered with spray paint.

Ballarat Botanical Garden Foundation said it was “deeply saddened” by the vandalism.

“The avenue is a source of pride for the local community and has been a site of national significance since it was opened by the Governor of Victoria in 1940,” the group said on Instagram.

“This blatant violation of this vital part of their history and heritage is a severe blow not only to the community but to everyone who works and cares for the gardens.”

Police further asked who saw suspicious behavior in the area to come forward.

Dozens of sculptures displayed on Prime Ministers Avenue at the Ballarat Botanic Gardens (pictured) were damaged by vandals during the early hours of Thursday morning

The heads of two statues, one of which includes the sculpture of former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating (pictured) were removed and stolen

The heads of two statues, one of which includes the sculpture of former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating (pictured) were removed and stolen

A Captain Cook statue in Sydney has been covered in red paint and damaged (pictured) as tensions rise ahead of Australia Day on Sunday

A Captain Cook statue in Sydney has been covered in red paint and damaged (pictured) as tensions rise ahead of Australia Day on Sunday

A City of Ballarat spokesperson also condemned the act, saying “this type of senseless damage is completely unacceptable.”

“Not only is it extremely costly for our taxpayers and will divert money from critical council services, it detracts from Ballarat as a city,” they said.

The avenue contains a collection of busts of Australia’s first 29 prime ministers, each with a bronze cast mounted on a polished granite plinth.

The exhibition has long been the site of attempted vandalism, with busts of Tony Abbott and John Howard sprayed with red paint in 2021.

It comes as a statue of Captain Cook in Sydney has been covered in red paint and damaged as tensions rise ahead of Australia Day on Sunday.

The statue, which stands on Belmore Road in Randwick, had its hand torn off in the attack and parts of its face destroyed.

It is the second time the sandstone statue has been vandalized in 12 months and the attack has been condemned by Randwick councilor Andrew Hay.

Randwick city councilor Dr Carolyn Martin told 2GB Vandals scaled the fence around the statue using a ladder and left it an ‘absolute mess’.

‘This is absolutely disgraceful behaviour. “We are all absolutely horrified,” he said.

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