If there is one thing that has continued to cause a rift between Aussie neighbours, it's the contentious (and awkward) issue of who is responsible for mowing that little strip of grass that adjoins properties.
And now the conversation has erupted online after a Sydney resident posted a controversial photo of a grassy patch shared by two homes in the lower North Shore.
The image, which was posted in a community Facebook group, shows a neighbour to have dutifully mowed right up until they hit the border, leaving a strip of grass untouched, as it technically isn't theirs.
"Seems these 2 neighbours in … Chatswood clearly don't get on," the caption read.
Many people branded it "ridiculous" while others shared similar experiences.
Another suggested it was the gardener's choice to leave the strip.
"They would be employing a gardener, doubt the homeowner would be doing that."
The discussion then spilt onto Ben Fordham Live show on 2GB with the radio host determined to settle the debate.
"There's a blow up on a community Facebook page in Willoughby in regards to someone (who) was doing their edges on the footpath outside their home, but then they stopped when they reached the boundary line, even though there was just one more metre outside the next person's property," Fordham told his listeners.
He then referred to the photo that had been posted onto the Willoughby Living Facebook page.
"What's the rule here?" he asked.
Listeners were quick to call in, again branding the move "petty".
It's sparked a heated debate of who should be mowing that little strip of grass. Photo / Facebook/WilloughbyLiving
However, the owner of the property who neglected the patch of grass took to the Facebook group to explain the situation.
"OMG. I think I have just been lawn-shamed!" they said.
"Relax people, we like our neighbours and promise in future we will get our gardeners to co-ordinate better.
"Hopefully then you can all sleep better at night or focus on issues more worthy of raising on a community page."
Nonetheless, it's still a hot topic with conversation continuing on this morning's show with Ben joking: "I thought cutting another bloke's grass was off-limits!"
One caller talked about an experience she'd had when she lived in Sydney in Ku-ring-gai.
"We lived in one of those streets where the trees arch over the road and so the grass on the nature strip was pretty naff," she said. "It didn't really grow very well. So a lot of people got rid of the lawns and put agapanthus (flowers) in."
However, the neighbour who owned the neglected patch of lawn wasn't impressed and complained.
The City of Willoughby Council confirmed it was not responsible for the maintenance of the grass strip, instead it's the responsibility of the owner.
