Prime Minister Tony Abbott was met with a volley of boos outside the Gough Whitlam Memorial at Sydney's Town Hall on Wednesday. Hundreds of people also gave it to the former Prime Minister John Howard.
The crowd was mostly made up of baby-boomers and staunch Labor supporters.
But the gracelessness was roundly criticised.
But there were some Australian progressives defending the move.
Unsurprisingly, Julia Gillard, Paul Keating and Bob Hawke received huge ovations. Kevin Rudd? Not so much.
Later on, all the seven living prime ministers gathered for an adorable/awkward family photo.