Trev, they got some specialist hedge trimming co. down your way, was featured in the Aussie Arborage a while back. They do those huge hedges, pine type of stuff in the posh house of the Victorians.
When I was on the Gold Coast I used to do a few resorts. Some had those large topiaried ficus and you'd be up and down a ladder all the time to get them round ... people who weren't so good at it would make them egg shaped as they grow more on top.
Trick was holding up something round, like a 20cent piece stuck to a stick and eying in on what had to be cut.
