Hi Bruce, Thanks for posting a thoroughly interesting story; which possibly answers a question I have had for a long time.
As my Dad had his dental practice right in the city of Brisbane, he used to do all his shopping at department stores, usually in his lunchtime. He wanted to buy a petrol lawn mower, and would have gone to Finneys (now David Jones) or Allan and Stark (now Myers)which, from your story, indicates in the mid fifties would not have sold Victas as all the dealers were suburban at that time. I remember a large delivery van arrive late one afternoon to deliver a "Pace" rotary mower with a Villiers "Torquemaster" engine which he had purchased that day.
I remember being very dissapointed as I was hoping he would buy a Victa, which were all the rage in our suburb of Clayfield.
Though I must admit the Pace was a reliable and sturdy machine that I pushed around on weekends for my pocket money!!
Now I'm wondering what ever happened to it.......
