AUSTRALIA’S first female prime minister will soon be immortalised in Ballarat’s Botanic Gardens, with Julia Gillard preparing to sit for her official bust. After receiving at least three invitations to be added to Prime Minister’s Avenue, Ms Gillard’s office this week confirmed a sitting was being arranged to fit in with her diary. It is expected a bust of Ms Gillard will be officially unveiled within six months of the sitting. She will become the 27th addition to the historic collection, which was created after a bequest to the city of Ballarat from parliamentarian and arts patron Richard Armstrong Crouch. Each of Australia’s prime ministers are included in the collection, regardless of the length of their time in office.Ms Gillard had previously been invited to sit for the bust by the City of Ballarat after deposing Kevin Rudd in June last year, and after she formed a minority government at the August 2010 election. As speculation continues around a possible return to the leadership by Mr Rudd, the City of Ballarat destination and connections director Jeff Pulford said the process was under way.“We’ve been advised that the Prime Minister is happy to participate, we’re now awaiting confirmation of a suitable date,” he said. A council spokesperson said Australian newspaper cartoonist Peter Nicholson would be contacted about a possible commission for the new sculpture. Mr Nicholson, famous for his cartoons and Rubbery Figures television series, has created busts of Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, John Howard and Kevin Rudd for the Ballarat collection.Follow @TomMcIlroy