Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill has stated he is "deeply saddened" by vandals who cut down Julia Gillard's tree in the Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks at Faulconbridge.
A resident reported the vandalism to Blue Mountains City Council, with the mayor confirming: "I'm sad to say, it cannot be saved".
"It's not the first time it's happened. It happened several times to John Howard's tree," said Cr Greenhill.
But the mayor noted the timing of this latest attack - days after the Coalition Government won an unexpected election victory - was noteworthy.
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"I note while this has happened before, it's interesting that it's happening now. I'm deeply saddened by it," he said.
"This is an historic area and I condemn it. We will replace it and review security options for the site."
The former Labor prime minister became the 27th prime minister to have a tree in the Prime Ministers' Corridor of Oaks in Faulconbridge at a ceremony on July 27, 2017.
At the time, the mayor said: "The oak trees have been planted by each prime minister or their closest living relative forming a living memorial to Sir Henry Parkes, known as the Father of Federation, and the federal prime ministers. It is a nationally recognised tradition."
