At least two busts in Prime Ministers Avenue in Ballarat, Victoria, have been decapitated, and the majority of others "extensively damaged" in a vandalism attack just days before Australia Day.
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Police are investigating the incident, which The Courier understands involved spray paint and physical damage to many of the busts, including those of former Labor Prime Ministers Paul Keating and Kevin Rudd, which have also been stolen.
Each bust now has a plastic bag sitting over it as the clean up continues.
Police said about 20 statues were damaged between 2am and 5am on Wednesday, January 23, with the damaged estimated to be more than $140,000.
The avenue contains bronze busts of every Australian Prime Minister. It is yet to contain the busts of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
City of Ballarat mayor, Councillor Tracey Hargreaves said the "senseless damage is completely unacceptable".
"It is not only extremely costly to our ratepayers and will divert money away from critical council services, but it detracts from Ballarat as a city," Cr Hargreaves said.
The incident has also saddened members of the community including Ballarat Botanical Gardens Foundation chair Mark Shultz.
"We are deeply saddened to hear of this act of vandalism on a beloved and historic feature of the gardens," he said.
"Prime Ministers Avenue has been a site of national significance since it was opened by the Governor of Victoria in 1940, and remains a unique focal point for locals and visitors.
"We hope the vandals are identified and charged, and appropriately dealt with by the law for this wanton destruction of public property."
The Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens said it was also devastated.
"We believe the Prime Ministers Walk is an iconic national treasure that is actually a showcase of our Australian democracy in our beautiful Gardens and to see it damaged in such a manner is hurtful and indeed shocking," the group said in a statement.
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison told The Courier the incident is heartbreaking for the community.
"This is such an important place. It's the national Prime Ministers avenue right here in Ballarat and for it to be vandalised, and for it to have two Prime Ministers' busts no longer with us is just disgusting," Ms Addison said.
"This kind of act is just not what Ballarat is about and it is totally unacceptable. I really hope we can get those two bronze busts back and we can restore the avenue to what it is. It's devastating to see all of the busts covered because of all of the vandalism."
"It's just heartbreaking to see something that's important and something that we're so proud of to be destroyed."
Ballarat-based Member for Western Victoria Joe McCracken said the attack is appalling just days out from January 26.
"I strongly condemn this senseless act of vandalism at this cherished landmark in Ballarat, which celebrates Australia's rich political history," he said.
"These actions undermine the spirit of unity and national pride that Australia Day is supposed to embody.
"There is no place in Ballarat for this type of behaviour. I hope the busts are restored and that those responsible are caught."
It's the second incident in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in recent months. In November, the Garden's floral clock was damaged after its hands were damaged in a vandalism incident.
In 2020, the busts of John Howard and Tony Abbott were vandalised in a similar incident, involving red spray paint.
Each bust can cost tens of thousands of dollars to make and install, but the cost of the next four busts will be covered thanks to a donation. In August 2023, The Courier reported the exact donation amount was not disclosed, but the council said it was "significant".
