General News
25 November, 2025
Oh what a million: Gary Driscoll’s LandCruiser honoured after reaching 999,999km
THERE’S no doubt Nhill-based stock, station and real estate agent, Gary Driscoll, felt on Friday morning his decision to buy a Toyota 2009 Landcruiser 200 Series Sahara over 15 years ago was vindicated in the best possible way.
Clocking a million kilometres in its lifetime, the car was driven for the last time by the Nhill-based stock, station and real estate agent, and evidenced its resilience and exceptional engineering in the best possible way with the significant milestone.
Arriving at the Horsham Toyota dealership just after 10.30am with the odometer at 999,968km, the plan was to take a short return drive out of town on the Western Highway to get the display at 999,999 – but no further, as it would simply tick over to six zeros if he kept going.
During the drive, Mr Driscoll effused repeatedly about the quality of the vehicle, especially when he estimated it would “nearly have pulled that tandem trailer with the sheep and lamb scales on it for about 30 per cent of its time” across roads in his district that were sometimes, to use his vernacular, “absolutely sheisenhausen” but “you would think you were just gliding on air”.
“There’s a patch near Hardings Swamp, you wouldn’t want it to be any rougher for bitumen,” he said.
“But this has been on limestone roads, sandstone roads ... back roads … (it’s) been to Broken Hill and Tipooburra and Jamestown and Hay and Booligal …
“It’s been everywhere, man.”
Bought in April 2010, Mr Driscoll spoke of his staunch belief in being consistent with maintenance, with nearly every scheduled service having been done at the Horsham dealership.
Remarkably, the car was still on its original motor and transmission, with possibly the only major mechanical component that’s been replaced being two alternators.
He was also pleased with the way it sounded.
“If you notice … there’s not one squeak,” Mr Driscoll said.
“No rattles, no squeaks, they’re a wonderful vehicle.”
He was driving with his son, Frazer, who had memories of the car – growing up in the back seat, and then driving it as early as when he was “12 or 13” on the property.
“I’ve done all my learner's driving in here,” Frazer said.
“But I wouldn’t have thought that there’s two or three hundred hours that I’ve done.”
Heading back on the last part of the return leg via the Longerenong turnoff, Mr Driscoll started to get nervous, remarking as the car was travelling on Williams Road and crossed the Burnt Creek bridge at 999,998.
“Oooh, this is gonna be tight – I might’ve misjudged it," he quipped.
Indeed, Mr Driscoll had, for it was only a few hundred metres later, the goal was met – there it was, 999,999.
Unfortunately, they were still more than a kilometre away from Horsham Toyota.
“They’ll have to tow us in,” Gary said, immediately seeing the humour in it and slowing down to stop," he said.
“I’m not going any further!”
Phone calls were made, and amid laughter – “there’s your story!” – and some curiosity from locals on Vine Avenue, Gary unhitched the trailer, waiting for a helpful truck to arrive.
He estimated the Landcruiser probably only had about 700 or 800 metres left.
When the truck turned up, it all went very quickly: transported for the final part of the journey, the million-kilometre luxury 4WD was being carefully unloaded at the dealership barely 15 minutes later, admired by staff and media attending alike for its lifetime of reliable driving.
General Sales manager Joel Kelly said the vehicle was deserving of the recognition and was likely to become a genuine piece of Australian Toyota history.
“So it’s going to stay at Horsham Toyota for a couple of weeks,” he said.
“Then Toyota’s going to have a discussion with Gary about whether it goes into the museum or what they’re going to do with it ... whether they buy it off him or loan it off him.
“But it will sit in our showroom for a few weeks.”
Driven into the showroom to take pride of place inside the entrance, Mr Driscoll stepped out with the keys and handed them over with a handshake.
“There you go – all yours!” he said to Joel.
Fifteen years and seven months of faithful service had come to an end.
Still, if there was any sadness, Mr Driscoll certainly didn’t show it afterwards, as he shared several stories cheerfully to the dealership staff of run-ins with the local wildlife and panels repaired.
Patting the vehicle, he said, “She’s been a good old girl!”
Read More: Nhill