Honda Celebrates a Golden 50 Years in Australia

Brisbane Mower Centre is a proud Authorised Honda Dealer. We sell genuine Honda Power Equipment including: Lawn Mowers, Blowers, Trimmers & Brushcutters, Generators and more. All products are assembled and fuelled at the time of purchase and our staff at Brisbane Mower Centre will complete your warranty registration for your convenience. Brisbane Mower Centre also offers professional authorised servicing on your Honda products.

Honda Australia celebrates its 50th birthday this year, marking half a century since the company was established locally on February 4, 1969.

Although Honda products had been imported and distributed around Australia by a variety of private companies since the 1950s, the brand's official local presence began when Honda Motor Company in Japan sent Mr. Hidehiko Shiomi to Melbourne to setup a unified, national representation for Honda in Australia.

"Honda Australia was a Honda subsidiary set up primarily to sell cars, but it has since grown with the global Honda brand to deliver a wide range of products and services that help make people's lives more enjoyable," said Honda Australia Managing Director & CEO, Mr. Hiroyuki Shimizu.

From cars and motorcycles to generators, lawn mowers and marine engines, Honda's diverse range of products have been enjoyed by millions of Australians over the last 50 years.

To mark such a significant milestone, a unified Honda Australia has created a one-off collection of some its current iconic performance products, resplendent in striking gold bodywork as the traditional symbol of a 50th Anniversary.

"We thought about how we could celebrate our birthday and our unique diversity in a bold and fun way. I mean, who has ever seen a golden mower or generator before?" said Mr. Shimizu.

"To Honda, performance means more than speed – each product is designed to perform at a level that exceeds the expectations of the customer. We're looking forward to showcasing these amazing golden products around the country throughout 2019, so stay tuned for more information on that front."

In images and video footage set against a quintessentially Australian backdrop, the Honda Australia 'golden era of performance' lineup covers everything from generators to supercars, featuring seven of Honda's latest and greatest products:

NSX hybrid supercar

Civic Type R high-performance hot hatch

CBR1000RR Fireblade motorcycle from the Supersport range

CRF450L next-generation motorcycle from the Enduro range

CRF50F Kids Fun bike, Honda's best-selling off road machine

HRU19 Buffalo Premium lawnmower, proudly designed and assembled here in Australia

EU22i Generator, the world's best-selling Super Quiet, leisure generator

The celebratory golden collection of products will be used throughout the year to inspire, thank and connect with Honda Australia customers.

"Achieving 50 years of longevity and continuity in business is a significant milestone, but none of this would be possible without our people. Our team at Honda Australia and our dealer network across the country are exceptional at what they do and I thank them for their contribution", said Mr. Shimizu

"Most importantly though are our customers. Honda would be nothing without our customers – both long-term customers and new customers all contribute to making this brand what it is today. I am very proud to be a second-generation Managing Director of Honda Australia and incredibly grateful to all our customers for their ongoing loyalty, trust and belief in the Honda name."

Honda Motorcycle and Power Equipment Managing Director, Mr. Robert Toscano, is pleased to see both Honda subsidiaries partner for this special milestone.

"Honda products have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of modern Australia over the last 50 years – take the CT110, more commonly known as the Australia Post, 'postie bike', which has helped deliver the mail to Australians all across the country for generations," said Mr. Toscano.

"I am proud to have been a part of the journey so far and it's fantastic for us to celebrate this together, we all look forward to the future and the next 50 years of Honda in Australia."

Creating the golden products Honda Australia has partnered with Melbourne-based specialists Vinyl Wraps and Graphics to conceptualise and produce the striking gold bodywork on each of the products. A gold chrome film was laminated with a clear satin film to help disperse reflections, resulting in a unique and refined finish that changes tone with the prevailing light source.

"Given the thickness of the vinyl wrap and the intricate profiles of the bodywork, this was a complex project across a diverse range of products, but we are thrilled with the results," said Matt Czerny, Managing Director of Vinyl Wraps and Graphics.

"We worked closely with the Honda Australia team on the design, with the gold theme highlighted with some satin black accents, such as on the badging and wheels of the NSX. And it's not every day you get to work on a golden generator, everyone who's seen it wants one."

Come and see our friendly and knowledgeable staff at Brisbane Mower Centre for your Honda Power Equipment needs.

4 TIPS TO HELP YOUR GARDEN SURVIVE A DRY SUMMER

We would all love a garden that is green and lush all year round, but when the heat of summer hits and the rain stops falling, this can have a major effect on your lawn, killing your grass and the surrounding trees and plants. But don’t despair… there are a number of ways to tackle the side effects of dry periods and ensure your lawn stays healthy through these sometimes lengthy spells.

1 – PROTECT YOUR GARDEN’S BIGGEST ASSET

Your trees should be first on your checklist as they are expensive to replace, and also provide a shade for parts of your garden, which in turn will keep it cool and less thirsty for water. The Blueberry Ash, Tuckeroo tree or Water gum are all great Australian native trees that protect your lawn (and family) from the summer sun.  A helpful strategy for strengthening your trees during drought is to drill several holes about half a meter deep around the base of the tree and fill them with compost (keep away from the trunk though!). These holes will allow water reach the tree’s roots, keeping them hydrated and healthy. A planting auger attachment on the STIHL BT 45 will make this task a breeze.

2 – LOVE YOUR LAWN

There are two ways for water to escape your lawn: evaporation, which is when water escapes from your lawn’s surface, and transpiration which is when water sweats from the stems and leaves of surrounding plants. It’s also a good idea to aerate your lawn during the warmer months, as the compacted soil will allow the water to easily evaporate from it. It’s also important to water your lawn slowly and with sprinkler or fan hose. This will reduce the amount of water lost through transpiration. It’s also important to watch for and remove all bugs and pests as they come out into your lawn looking for food during dry conditions.

3 – MULCH AWAY!

Mulch is key to protecting your plants and flowers during dry spells. Un-mulched soil loses twice as much water as mulched soil so 5-10cm of good organic mulch or compost will lock in moisture, reduce the soil’s temperature, prevent compaction, and suppress water stealing weeds. Even though Grevilleas, Bottlebrush and Kangaroo paws are all drought-tolerant local plants, they still benefit from mulch and a good drink through the hot summer. If you are able to water your lawn, water plants slowly and with a sprinkler or fan hose, as plants absorb water better this way, similar to how they do when it rains.

4 – REUSE, REUSE, REUSE

Be smart and conserve water in any way possible during hot conditions. Don’t go straight for the tap when it’s time to water. Collect roof water from water tanks if you can and use that first. Wet your soil slowly and deeply by using a sprinkler system or fan hose. This will avoid water sitting on top of your lawn, waiting to evaporate. It’s also the best practice to water your lawn and plants in the morning or in the evenings when humidity is high as you’ll lose less water to evaporation.

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