Hello ODK history lovers
We all know about the once-iconic Victa; the Australian-
grown rotary lawnmower that shaped our horticultural nation.
But behind that story is another dramatic story …

This is the story of George Yelverton Julius, a talented
engineer, man of mystery, and convicted con man. He was a valued
employee of Victa Mowers in the 1950s.

He was central to Victa Mowers’ success in the 1950s.

Many Victa patents list him as ‘actual inventor’.
I suspect he ‘sold out’ to commerce for his other ideas …

[Linked Image]

BACKGROUND: -
There is more … George Yelverton Julius was the
infamous son of a very famous Australian, Sir George Alfred Julius (1873-1946): -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Julius

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/julius-sir-george-alfred-6890

http://www.thekingscandlesticks.com/webs/pedigrees/577.html

https://csiropedia.csiro.au/julius-sir-george-alfred/

You get the idea. That the son must have been such a ‘disappointment’
to the family must be a gross understatement.

As one Judge said in 1946, “He came from a good family,
and had used his position to embark on a career of fraud.”

He became known as “Gentleman George.”

‘Career of fraud’ seems appropriate; given criminal activity
continued into the 1950s!

But I am not here to judge...

This is a story of a talented engineer -
with a criminal defect - probably in-part because he walked in the
footsteps of a successful father. But there are other reasons that
I hope to explore here. We’re not likely to know why Julius junior
fell from grace in acting as he did.

In Australian mowerlore history this is a BIG ONE!

TO BE CONTINUED …