These delightful gardens are well worth visiting. The gold-rich citizens of Ballarat bestowed magnificent gifts on the gardens from its early days, including the collection of 12 marble statues that now stand in the conservatory, the elegant Statuary Pavilion and its contents—including the wonderful Flight from Pompeii—and a statue of William Wallace near the gardens’ entrance. Other highlights include Prime Ministers Avenue, lined with bronze busts of Australia’s 27 PMs, and the striking Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial at the southwestern end of the gardens. One of the greatest attractions is an avenue of 70 giant redwoods, planted about 130 years ago. The gardens’ cafe overlooks Lake Wendouree.