Frank Muldowney, a former Credit Union worker from East Wall, Dublin, began his bizarre bid 18 months ago in Perth, and finished up just three weeks ago at the lighthouse in Byron Bay.

"I think by announcing an official date for peace, this belief can be spread everywhere through the media into the world's minds and hearts, " he told the Sunday Tribune. "People can now be more focused on thoughts of peace, rather than of war, negativity and fear."

Muldowney insisted this goal was not overly optimistic.

"The aim of the walk is to change people's mindset and convince them that they can change the future. During my walk, news came through that peace had finally been restored in Northern Ireland.

I found that hugely inspiring and it spurred me to keep going."

Muldowney's pilgrimage across Australia was inspired by his own near-death experience at 19 when he suffered a brain haemorrhage.

"I was told my memory and speech would never be the same again. I made a decision to either accept the medical diagnosis or think of it as mind over matter. If I was able to make a full recovery against all the odds, why can't world peace be achieved the same way?" he said.

The 'Harvey' concept was inspired by the 1950 James Stewart film of the same name.

The movie follows the story of a man whose best friend is an imaginary six-foot, threeand-a-half-inch rabbit named Harvey. "Harvey is the imaginary peacemaker who lives in each individual's heart, " said Muldowney.

"Harvey's wheelchair is a symbol for a world disabled by fear, racism and injustice. The world is disabled until we have peace."

The 41-year-old is now planning to start a group called 'A Global Pilgrimage for Peace' with the aim of making a documentary to highlight how world peace can be achieved through walking.

"I'm planning a walk from Dublin to Belfast when I come home in December to make this an issue in Ireland, and I aim to get the support of entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Bono."

Over the course of his journey, Muldowney met the "love of his life", a Swiss national named Jacky, who intends to return to Ireland with him.