The Ballarat Botanical Gardens Reserve covers an area of 40 hectares which is divided into 3 distinct zones. The central Botanical Gardens preserve the 'gardenesque' style of the Victorian pleasure garden. On either side there are open parkland buffers known as the North and South Gardens. Located on the western shore of picturesque Lake Wendouree, the Gardens are an invaluable heritage and recreational resource to be enjoyed by the residents of Ballarat and visitors from around the world. A collection of bronze portraits of all 25 Australian Prime Ministers is set within the magnificent Horse Chestnut Avenue. One of the founding fathers of Federation was Alfred Deakin who was the first Federal Member for Ballarat and the second Prime Minister. Ballarat is a city in regional Victoria, Australia, approximately 120 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, with a population of 84,000 people. ... Lake Wendouree is an artificially created and maintained shallow urban lake in the city of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. ... Ballarat is a city in regional Victoria, Australia, approximately 120 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, with a population of 84,000 people. ... The current (25th) Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard (sitting, fifth from left), with his Cabinet, 1999 The office of Prime Minister is in practice the most powerful political office in the Commonwealth of Australia. ... Hon Alfred Deakin Alfred Deakin (August 3, 1856 – October 7, 1919) was an intellectual leader of the movement for Australian federation and second Prime Minister of Australia, born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of English immigrants. ... Ballarat is a city in regional Victoria, Australia, approximately 120 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, with a population of 84,000 people. ...