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David Muscat, Australia's 'Neighbor From Hell,' Builds Giant Middle Finger On Front Lawn

Middlefinger

First Posted: 08/04/11 01:56 PM ET Updated: 10/04/11 06:12 AM ET

Nothing quite says 'F*** you' like a giant middle finger.

So when a feud between Park Orchards, Australia residents and David Muscat boiled over, the feared "neighbor from hell" constructed an enormous wooden sculpture to flip the bird to all passers-by.

According to the Manningham Leader, Muscat built the sculpture in August of last year after complaints were made to the local council regarding illegal removal of trees from Muscat's property.

The sculpture -- which is highly visible due to the lack of greenery on Muscat's front lawn -- stands nearly four feet tall and was built using a chainsaw. Ironically, it faces Muscat's house.

The giant finger is just one of several obscene gestures from Muscat, 47, that the Frogmore Cres community has taken offense to. During a court hearing last week, Muscat's neighbor, John Washbourne, alleged that Muscat head butted him, "shoulder-barged" his wife," and pointed a leaf blower in the couple's faces after they requested he turn the garden appliance off.

The Herald Sun spoke with one resident who was "too scared to be named," but did call Muscat the "neighbor from hell," adding that, "We would all be quite happy if he just packed up and went away."

In the end, the iron fist of the law may get the best of Muscat's wooden finger. Muscat, 47, has since pleaded guilty to charges including assault, the sculpture, and a noise complaint, all leading to AU$700 in fines.

Muscat also faces a AU$10,000 fine from the Manningham Council after pleading guilty to removing the trees and doing garden work without a permit.

 
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09:14 PM on 08/07/2011
Wow 'always perfect', aren't you the intelligent one. I bet you are one of his neighbors and a liberal mudslinging big mouth cry baby to boot.
10:36 AM on 08/07/2011
Mr. Muscat's neighbors sound like the neighbors from hell. I'm giving them the finger as I type this. So funny. Too scared to give his name. I always thought Australians were tough! How about we start a "Neighbor from Hell" donation fund!!!
08:13 PM on 08/07/2011
You sound like a little homo.
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David Rozgonyi
Writer and traveler
09:05 AM on 08/08/2011
And you sound like someone who needs a middle finger pointed right at you, so here's lookin' at you.
03:30 AM on 08/06/2011
WTF???? This person needs to get the good neighbor award of the year in the catagory of Expressive Art.
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Sagan1
04:12 PM on 08/05/2011
well if I had to get a permit to do yard work I would be pissed too...I wonder if he needs a permit to sit on his porch or use the toilet too?
04:28 PM on 08/06/2011
"permit to ... use the toilet" Of course not, Don't be silly. But, disposal of wastes does require a permit.
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Oortcloud
10:19 AM on 08/05/2011
These should be marketed alongside the bear carvings and rockers at Cracker Barrel.
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ChicagoKev
10:07 AM on 08/05/2011
Hold on just a second there.... You have to have a PERMIT TO DO GARDEN WORK in Australia????
09:50 AM on 08/05/2011
It will be a perfect artifact to be placed in front of the US Capitol Hill building.
02:04 PM on 08/07/2011
What a great comment! That comment made my day. "kudos" to you RealLib5. Lee / Benson, AZ
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dayzee10
Are you a master builder or a master butcher?
09:19 AM on 08/05/2011
That sculpture should be on the front steps of the US Congress to show the citizens how Congress feels about us
08:15 PM on 08/06/2011
It should revolve to signify that the feeling is mutual.
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DruDeadly
Watching history being made!
09:06 AM on 08/05/2011
This is too funny! He added an extra finger for good measure! LOL!
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Sagan1
04:13 PM on 08/05/2011
and pointed it to his own house to boot... so funny
08:42 AM on 08/05/2011
Children.
08:08 AM on 08/05/2011
What kind of community makes you have a permit to garden??? Maybe he has a point?
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ChicagoKev
10:08 AM on 08/05/2011
Totally agree!!
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SocratesFan
Elitist who loves books and learning
02:41 PM on 08/05/2011
Your reading is selective. That wasn't the residents' only problem.

He also shoved someone and pointed a friggin' leaf blower in people's FACES, and he generally believed rudely and boorishly on a daily basis.

THAT was their problem with him, not his lack of a permit.

As lost as the art may be here in America, most Australians still expect people to behave themselves with some degree of class and self-respect. Building a statue giving everyone you don't like the middle finger may not be illegal, but it does resemble the actions of a delinquent teenager, the only difference being that the truant officer won't be hunting for this supposedly "grown man."
04:34 PM on 08/06/2011
Maybe if the neighbors minded their own business instead of hassling him for gardening without a permit they wouldn't have been "blown away" with a leaf blower.
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infonomics
Your happiness pleases me but must I witness it
07:21 AM on 08/05/2011
Not a math major. Six fingers.
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DruDeadly
Watching history being made!
09:05 AM on 08/05/2011
LOL!
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ChicagoKev
10:12 AM on 08/05/2011
Not a biology major. Polydactyly.
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aurora59
Sarcasm: just one of the many services we offer
06:43 AM on 08/05/2011
Glad this guy doesn't live next door to me! His "finger" would surely upstage my garden gnome nativity!
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ChicagoKev
10:12 AM on 08/05/2011
Do you have a permit for that gnome?
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aurora59
Sarcasm: just one of the many services we offer
10:51 AM on 08/05/2011
Nope. Pretty sure they'd deny me a permit in this town. Although someone is sure to report me to code enforcement, come this holiday season. If I go through with my plan to put Santa Flamingo on the roof, that is. Rudolph the Red Beaked Reindingo's blinking honker, will surely draw some attention:}
05:42 AM on 08/05/2011
nice finger
03:23 AM on 08/05/2011
cannot stop laughing. "one resident who was "too scared to be named,"