The Prime Ministers Avenue features life-sized bronze busts of every Australian Prime Minister from Edmund Barton to the present.
The collection includes rare trees such as the Algerian Oak and several specimens of Giant Sequoia planted in the 1860s.
The garden hosts a significant collection of Italian marble statues donated by Thomas Stoddart in 1884.
The Conservatory displays are changed multiple times throughout the year to reflect seasonal blooms.
The gardens are maintained as a heritage landscape reflecting the Victorian era's formal planting style.
The Ballarat Botanical Gardens are situated on the western shore of Lake Wendouree, housing an extensive collection of mature exotic and native trees. The site is divided into three distinct zones: a central botanical garden and two open parkland areas. A primary feature is the Robert Clark Conservatory, a modern glass structure that hosts rotating floral displays. The garden grounds include the Prime Ministers Avenue, featuring bronze busts of every Australian Prime Minister. The Conservatory was constructed in 1995 to replace an original fernery and is designed to provide optimal environmental control for seasonal flowers. The gardens contain significant horticultural collections, including heritage trees listed on the National Trust of Australia. The landscape design retains original 19th-century elements, including Victorian-era statuary and marble carvings donated in the late 1800s. The gardens serve as a public arboretum with specimens sourced from across the globe.
Inside the Robert Clark Conservatory during a seasonal floral exhibition.
Walk the full length of the Prime Ministers Avenue to view the historical timeline of Australian leaders.
Check the Conservatory entrance before exploring the rest of the park, as floral displays are frequently rotated.
Allow extra time to loop around the adjacent Lake Wendouree perimeter track after visiting the gardens.
Do not attempt to walk across the lake-side lily ponds or feed the waterfowl, as it disrupts the local ecosystem.
Stay on marked paths in garden beds; do not climb on historical marble statues or plinths.
