Victorian man’s unkempt yard crowned world’s ugliest lawn in global competition

In a nation where a pristine, emerald-green lawn has long been the hallmark of a well-maintained property, one Victorian homeowner is challenging everything we thought we knew about kerb appeal.

Jarno Coone, from Kyneton, has just been crowned the winner of the 2025 World’s Ugliest Lawn competition, and his decade-long commitment to a bone-dry, unkempt yard is sparking a fascinating conversation about sustainability and the future of Australian yards.

While real estate agents traditionally spruik the benefits of manicured gardens for boosting property value, Mr Coone’s winning patch is anything but.

His lawn hasn’t seen a drop of water in 10 years, and his mower is a relic of a bygone era, gathering dust in the shed.

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The result? A wild, unruly expanse that judges unflatteringly described as looking “like kids’ hair after a lice treatment gone horribly wrong.”

Victorian local Jarno Coone’s lawn has been crowned the world’s ugliest.

The professional groundskeeper says his garden hasn’t been watered or mowed in over 13 years.

While the garden may look ugly to some, Mr Coone argues that his a biodiversity heaven.

But for Mr Coone, a property manager by profession who tends to 1,100 acres of bushland at Candlebark and Alice Miller school, this isn’t neglect; it’s a deliberate statement

“It’s very dry at the moment and hasn’t been watered in 13 years,” Mr Coone told Star Weekly in a social media video.

“Obviously, it also hasn’t been mowed for a long time, but I hope that’s doing a little bit for biodiversity and the environment. I don’t think it’s particularly ugly. I quite like it.”

His “ugly” lawn is, in fact, a thriving micro-ecosystem, home to native grasses, butterflies, and microbats.

It’s a low-maintenance, drought-resistant landscape that drastically reduces water consumption – a significant consideration for homeowners facing rising utility costs and increasingly frequent water restrictions.

Tasmanian Kathleen Murray won the competition in 2023. Supplied: World’s Ugliest Lawn

The 2022 winner of the then-named Gotland’s Ugliest Lawn competition, Marcus Norström. Supplied: World’s Ugliest Lawn

He does, however, admit to some brush cutting to “keep it managed” and avoid upsetting the neighbours, who have voiced concerns about snakes.

“Snakes need a water source though,” Mr Coone wisely points out, suggesting his neighbours are likely safe.

The World’s Ugliest Lawn competition, now in its third year, began as a quirky stunt on the Swedish island of Gotland to promote water conservation.

The winning entry in 2024. Supplied: World’s Ugliest Lawn

The southern hemisphere has dominated the contest, with previous winners hailing from Sandford, Tasmania, and Birdlings Flat in New Zealand, proving that our sunbaked landscapes are perfectly suited to this unconventional honour.

So, while some might recoil at the sight of Mr Coone’s parched display, he stands firm in his belief that true beauty lies not in perfect green lawns, but in a landscape that embraces nature and conserves our most precious resource.