Just Stumbled across this old post. I know this machine well. I believe my father bought it from the Nestles factory in Maffra when it closed down and then fixed it up and proceeded to use to mow the garden that had heaps of trees to get around. When my parents decided to sell they left the mower behind. I think dad paid $150 for it and the woman that bought the house was trying to flog it off for $4500! I did ring to see if it was a typo but no that's what she wanted. I have its workshop book still though.
The house in the background was pretty well built by Dad by himself with the odd help from mates. The window behind the seat was my Bedroom as a child. The woman who bought the property was trying to sell it for 3 times as much within a year....
