Mr Ladgrove was working at his parent’s Wangaratta pub, the Vine, when he took his inspiration to grow a beard akin to Ned Kelly.

His facial hair was a hit with regulars and tourists at the pub and so it stayed as he moved on from Wangaratta to Bristol in England.

Now Mr Ladgrove is the face of a Bristol-based beard care range – named Bristoil – after his now bushy bristles were spotted in a picture on Instagram.

“I was really flattered,” he said. 

Ladgrove, who has been growing his beard for two years, has never had it trimmed.

He said beards were no longer just for latte-sipping hipsters.

“These days everyone from office workers to policemen are sporting big beards,” Mr Ladgrove said.

“I think that all men who have been blessed with the genetics to grow a full beard should do it at least once in their life.”