OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Model Histories AUSTRALIAN Reel Hand-Mowers BUNYIP - Nock & Kirby - c1936

Hello ODK History Lovers

The Bunyip push mower was a sidewheel push mower made for the great Sydney
Department Store of Nock & Kirby.

Made in 10, 12 and 14 inch sizes, the Bunyip was most probably an exclusive
store brand of Nock & Kirby; given that all advertising for the brand came
from this store.

The earliest records I have date from 1936 with sales ceasing in 1941 due to
wartime production. A few records show that the Bunyip was sold post war for
a short period up until about 1954.



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Who Made the Bunyip?

The Bunyip followed a conventional design suited to Australian conditions -
5 blade reel, 9inch driving wheels and, most importantly, it had ball bearings.
This was not a 'cheapie', but a quality hand mower, designed for long life.

The obvious question that must be addressed is: who made it?

I cannot overestimate the role Nock & Kirby played in our vintage mower history.
Commencing business in 1871 (at Sydney's Circular Quay), they became one of
Sydney's premier stores, moving to their famous George Street premises in the
1930s. They also had branch stores in Wollongong, Bankstown and Parramatta. This
was a catalogue store that sold goods far and wide.

Nock & Kirby did own factories for making a few of their goods, but most goods
were procured locally or from around the world. In this regard, I have no doubt
that the Bunyip was made by an outside maker, but who?

Nock & Kirby had an extensive Garden Department and they sold a huge variety of
lawnmowers - powered and manual; large and small - from local manufacturers or
from overseas: the United States, the United Kingdom, or from wherever!

The vital clues are to be found in the period and the advertising details.
By the mid-1930s Australia had a not insignificant lawnmower manufacturing
industry, particularly for the domestic hand mowers that the majority of
Australians bought. So the initial assumption was that the Bunyip was of
Australian make.

I ruled out North American manufacture with the Clue 'Sheffield steel'
(see 1936 ad.). The Bunyip was either of British or Australian make. By the
late 1930s reference to Sheffield steel was dropped in Bunyip ads in favour of
'tested steel'. This pointed to one obvious manufacturer.



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - Analysis & Conclusion

I believe the Bunyip was probably made by Qualcast (Australia) as an exclusive
store brand for Nock & Kirby. The specification of Qualcast's Model H and the
Bunyip are indeed similar: 5 blades of Sheffield steel, 9" driving wheels,
'saw blade steel' bottom blade ... 3 years' guarantee.



The name 'Bunyip' is uniquely Australian. A Bunyip is a "large mythical
creature from Australian Aboriginal mythology, said to lurk in swamps,
billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes" (Wikipedia). The mere
naming of a lawnmower with a uniquely Australian name does suggest
Australian manufacture ... but that suggestion (in vintage mowers) has
often proved misleading; with many opportunistic sellers attaching Ozzie
names to imported machines. In this case, it was an ambiguous clue.

The Bunyip was sold post war, and it appears it did not change its
specification. Given that fact, its days were numbered. New lawnmower
designs with their tubular handles, rubber tyres, and lightweight
construction, were emerging from the likes of Ogden and Pope. Most
importantly, the hand mower days were now numbered by the impending
powered mower revolution. The last advertising record I have dates from
early 1954. Note that the Bunyip sits alongside powered lawnmowers from
Ransomes, Pope and Tecnico.



The Bunyip is an important lawnmower - less so in its design - but more so
in that it is an early example of a store branded machine, made in Australia,
and one sold by the great Nock & Kirby.

The rest is history.
-------------------------------------
Jack

Many thanks to member IanOZ for giving us these images.
These are important for giving new evidence that the Bunyip was a
Nock & Kirby exclusive store Brand.

Note that Nock & Kirby is cast into the wheels.

AUSTRALIAN Reel Hand Mowers


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