$19 item that sparked 6am lines returns to Bunnings
The item that sparked shopping frenzies and $1000 resale prices is back at Bunnings stores nationwide, with an expanded collection from hit show Bluey.
Fans of a hit children’s show are about to get excited, as a popular item inspired by the program making its return to Bunnings’ shelves.
The hardware giant’s stores in Australia and New Zealand transformed into Hammerbarn — the fictional DIY store from the ABC’s Bluey — in July, after the activation’s success in 2024.
Despite the frenzy that the Bluey-themed takeover inspired, with DIY workshops and scavenger hunts, it was garden gnomes that had people lining up at 6am.
For those living under a rock — or those without children — the “Hammerbarn” episode sees Bingo and Bluey argue because things aren’t split evenly between them while they build a make-believe story in the trolley.
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For instance, Bingo’s garden gnome came with a shovel while Bluey’s didn’t. They bicker until a gnome breaks, prompting them to learn a lesson about sharing and envy.
Somehow the gnomes have become a bit of a phenomenon and now, Bunnings has announced the Bluey-inspired gnomes are back in stores.
Fan favourite gnomes Hecuba, Tony, Jeremy, Meditation and Gerald returned to shelves on October 4.
There are also two new additions to the Bluey gnome family — Exercise and Baker. One is a gnome lifting a barbell and the other is a gnome in a baker’s hat.
Just like with other releases of the popular product, it will be a limited release - so customers are encouraged to get in quick.
Bunnings first turned stores into Hammerbarn in February 2024 and it was met with a lot of excitement.
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Fans of the hit TV show – including social media personality Christian Hull – rushed to the Hammerbarn stores to get a glimpse of the “real life” transformation.
“I don’t think you’re ready for this. Guess where I am? Hammerbarn,” Hull said, before putting on a Bluey mask.
He said everyone was looking at him and while he was mortified he “didn’t care because (he) loved Bluey so much”.
The DIY-giant then released another collection of gnomes in August of that year, before the massive drop earlier this year.
The $19 figurines – dubbed “husbands” in the Bluey episode – were quick to sell out last time, leaving several customers disappointed.
“Went at 6am and it was a fight to get one,” reported one shopper on Facebook.
“There was a rush at 6am in Kirrawee, they are all gone now,” another added.
As one commented: “I missed out last year, am going to try my luck later.”
“I hope you’ve got plenty of stock of ‘husbands’. Last time, there were wails and tears of disappointment when tiny customers asked the Bunnings staff to help them ‘find a husband’ and they had sold out,” declared someone else.
“Secured some goodies this morning,” one wrote on a video shared by Bunnings.
“Got myself a ‘new husband’ at Bunnings this morning,” bragged another.
As one added: “So excited, I finally got the Bluey Hammerbarn gnomes from Bunnings, couldn’t believe when I saw that they were back.”
In July, Bunnings introduced a purchase limit of four gnomes per customer in order to prevent bulk-buying. It is unclear if that is the case this time around.
But it did little to stop those hoping to cash-in on the item’s popularity, with many of the gnomes appearing on eBay with asking prices as high as $1000.
