So it was to many people’s amusement that a life-sized replica was driven around Bendigo on the back of a trailer on Tuesday with a “Bendigo” sign above it.

Owner Glenn Holmes caused quite a stir with the shark, which was originally used in an American Wrigley’s chewing gum commercial. 

He stopped at Kangaroo Flat Rotary Club, pulled in for some shopping at the Marketplace and took in the sights of Lake Eppalock.

“A couple of chaps said they’d never seen a great white in the banks of the water,” Mr Holmes joked.

“People were coming up everywhere I went and telling me a story about a shark.” 

Mr Holmes, from Melbourne, said he developed a great respect for sharks after surfing near them in his youth.

He said he changed the signs according to his mood.

The cycling fan changed the sign to Orica GreenEdge Cycling on his drive back to Melbourne on Tuesday night after the team won a stage of the Tour de France. 

He said the Bendigo sign paid homage to his family who are from Bendigo, including his dad Bob who drove around with him on Tuesday.

“It’s a town I have family links to, and it’s been a big part of my life, and it’s a place that gets talked about,” he said.

“I hope to drive it around Collins Street in Melbourne with the Bendigo sign on it soon.”?