Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison attends unveiling of his bronze likeness in Ballarat Botanic Gardens

The latest addition to Ballarat’s Prime Minister Avenue is Scott Morrison, unveiled with the former leader in attendance on May 15. 

❓What happened: Scott Morrison’s image has been captured in bronze as the 30th bust along Prime Minister Avenue, located in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens. The bust was produced by sculptor Martin Moore, who joked to the media attending the unveiling that he was “disappointed” the former leader was “looking quite trim now”.

ScoMo as we know it: Scott Morrison became prime minister in 2018. His tenure as leader of Australia oversaw the Covid-19 Pandemic, the 2019-2020 Black Summer fires and record floods in Queensland in 2022. 

The former leader told reporters he was grateful to the prime ministers who came before him. 

🗣️: “I say thank you to all of those who stand behind me right now for their sacrifice, for their wisdom, for the lessons they taught me on both sides of the aisle, for the way that they advanced Australia,” said Morrison.

Lined with leaders: Prime Minister Avenue was originally commissioned by Richard Crouch and the first six busts were unveiled in 1940. 

Since then, the tradition has continued, due in part to a £1,000 investment from Crouch that supported the creation of each bust until 2014. 

The value of this investment today would be close to $158,400 AUD. 

Following 2015, the City of Ballarat stepped in to continue funding the collection.

Header Image: City of Ballarat