You can imagine the headlines: "PM to build luxury lakefront mansion". Or maybe "Taxpayers whacked $50m for Malcolm's manor".

Which is precisely why no prime minister has had the intestinal fortitude to do what needs to be done and build a new Lodge.

As you can see from these pictures, the current Lodge is pleasant enough in it's old-fashioned way. It's big – though not quite stately – tastefully appointed and full of history, and the grounds are gorgeous.

But even after its epic $9 million makeover there's no hiding its age: it's creaky and cramped, dark and dingy, and there's a good chance it will continue to be a drain on the taxpayer in the years to come.

It was only ever meant to be temporary – a five-year fix while a more appropriate house could be built. That was almost 90 years ago.

There's long been land on the southern foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin set aside for a new Lodge.

Nearing the end of construction of the prime minister's residence, The Lodge. Photo: Fairfax Archives

A new Lodge that could be purpose-built for the future; a modern and memorable building that could showcase Australia's design genius, pay tribute to our Indigenous heritage and reflect our multicultural makeup.

It doesn't have to be the Taj Mahal. Just a place where our prime minister can host world leaders with pride – without the risk of another possum pee incident.

Yes, it would be expensive.

It probably wouldn't cost as much as $50 million – but then again, let's never underestimate the bureaucracy's ability to spend money.

And yes, it would be politically difficult – impossible, perhaps, for a man of Malcolm Turnbull's wealth.

What we need is a PM on the way out who can bed down the project and say hand on heart, "I'm not building this for me, I'm building it for the country".