Tidying up the backyard can be as exciting as watching grass grow – unless you have the world’s largest mower! Yes, the lawn and the short of it is that Beerwah’s Big Mower is a grass-terclass in roadside architecture and a true celebration of Aussie culture.

The Big Mower was built in 1974 by brothers Peter and Paul Knight, and stands an incredible 11m by 3.6m (or 12 yards tall for my American fans). The boys cast the fibreglass base from an upside-down swimming pool mould, then attached four truck wheels to it.

The branding has flip-flopped several times, but currently bears the Victa logo. A recent repaint has the Mower looking sharp again after it started looking a bit rough around the hedges in recent shears.

The Big Mower rests peacefully outside a lawncare shop known, quite appropriately, as The Big Mower. The boutique went under the hammer in 2024 for the bargain price of $1,750,000. I had a bit of a snipper round for funds, but ended up $1,749,950 short. Oh well, maybe the wheels will fall off the business and they’ll cut the price.

The store has the perfect mower for any occasion. Which must be fantastic if you have a big, burly man in your life who’s ready and willing to use it to chop the buffalo grass. I, unfortunately, have Gordon, who would rather sit around guzzling cheap beer and watching professional wrestling bloopers on his phone than keeping a trim and presentable front yard.

Oh well, Raoul the yard boy was more than happy to pop around to manicure my garden. His technique was impeccable, his attention to detail second to none. And you won’t believe what he did to my rhododendrons. In fact, Raoul might need to come over and cut Gordon’s grass once a week!

BONUS BIG JOKE

Q: Why was The Big Mower so cranky?
A: He was tired of being pushed around!