The Prime Ministers Avenue in the Victorian town’s Botanical Gardens features the bust of every Australian prime minister, but the ABC reports they no longer have the funds to keep up with the rapid turnover of leaders.
The Avenue, which was founded in 1940 using a bequest from the area’s former federal member, ran out of money after Julia Gillard’s portrait was commissioned in 2013.
Too many PM’s?
Her bust cost $12,000, though the local council is quoted in the story as saying the final figure was closer to $50,000. Des Hudson, the Mayor of Ballarat, also expresses his concern at the quick succession of leaders.
“When you know that, gee, there’s been another prime minister and we’ve got to allocate $40,000 or $50,000 towards that project, it reduces your capacity to do other things,” Mr Hudson said. “So, what we want are good stable governments in for a while.”
The Council is now hoping the Federal Government will step in to fund the project. Until then, Tony and Malcolm will just have to wait for their moment to be immortalised.
