Australia’s retail giants are locked in a new battle for the nation’s living rooms, as hardware behemoth Bunnings makes an aggressive push into affordable homewares, directly challenging discount department store powerhouses such as Kmart and Ikea.
With stylish pieces starting from just $19, Bunnings is no longer just for DIY projects; it’s now a serious contender in the budget decor market, leveraging its vast brick-and-mortar network to go head-to-head with Kmart’s long-held dominance.
Their latest strategic move, the release of the Astin Sinclair walnut-look range, has become an overnight sensation across social media platforms.
The collection, featuring items as accessible as a $19 side table, is proving to be a runaway success, drawing immediate comparisons to high-end designer pieces that command prices hundreds of dollars higher.
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Bunnings Astin Sinclair Harris Side Table retails for just $19. Picture: Bunnings.
“We know our customers are always on the lookout for stylish pieces at affordable prices, and the Astin Sinclair range delivers just that,” a spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“It’s a great example of Aussies wanting to choose pieces that bring function, style and value to their home.”
The standout item, a $49 Walnut Harris Console Table, has particularly captivated shoppers. Its “sleek and modern design” with “softly curved legs and a warm wood look finish” has resonated deeply, especially given its compact 30-centimetre width, making it an ideal solution for hallways, living rooms, or even behind a sofa.
It also looks strikingly like Calibre’s walnut console table, which costs more than $600.
Brisbane resident Maddison recently showcased her new console table on TikTok, prompting a flood of inquiries from eager buyers.
Brisbane resident Maddison has also fallen in love with the Astin Sinclair Harris Console Table which retails for just $49. Source: @Maddisonsmillie/TikTok
“Obsessed with this,” wrote one commenter, while another exclaimed, “$49!!!! No way, I need this.”
There’s also an Astin Sinclair Walnut Harris Side Table for $19 and a Walnut Harris Coffee Table for just $39 in the new range at Bunnings.
Kmart recently also dropped a new range of furniture.
Kmart has also dropped a new range, including The Aleks Occasional Chair ($85), Claire Marble-Look Bedside Table ($65), and Goldie Compressed Lounge Chair ($155). Picture: Kmart
The Aleks Occasional Chair retails for $85 and comes in a rich chocolate velvet colour, while a set of two walnut side tables retail for $59.
The Claire Marble-Look Bedside Table also has a “walnut-look ribbed finish”, and costs $65, while the Claire three drawer chest has a $179 price tag.
Wesfarmers’ dual play: Internal rivalry and property strategy
Adding another layer of intrigue to this retail tussle is the fact that both Bunnings and Kmart operate under the same corporate umbrella: Wesfarmers.
This means the internal competition for consumer spending is as fierce as the external market battle.
However, Wesfarmers’ strategy extends beyond product lines.
Earlier this year, Wesfarmers announced plans to capitalise on the surging demand for convenience retail assets.
This strategy has seen a significant number of Bunnings Warehouse properties change hands. Just months ago, HMC Capital’s HomeCo Daily Needs REIT sold the Bunnings Warehouse Seven Hills for a substantial $64.71 million to private property finance and investment group Mosman Capital.
This transaction, the largest of its kind for specialist outlets in three years and the first Sydney metropolitan Bunnings sale in four years, achieved a crisp 4.72 per cent yield, underscoring the intense investor appetite for these assets.
Bunnings has opened a new mega store at Frenchs Forest, Sydney. Picture: John Appleyard
The sale to a group of wealthy investors led by Mosman Capital highlights a fascinating dynamic: by divesting these prime retail properties, Wesfarmers is effectively empowering other property groups and investors.
These entities could, in turn, become significant players in the retail property market, potentially developing sites that house direct competitors to Wesfarmers’ own retail brands, or strengthening property portfolios that compete for prime retail tenants.
As of December last year, 13 Bunnings Warehouse transactions have been recorded nationally, totalling $510 million, more than double the 10-year annual average of $250 million.
This strategic cashing-in on property assets creates a complex web of competition, even within the broader Wesfarmers family of interests.
Bunnings’ brick-and-mortar blitz: Expanding the footprint
Despite the property divestments, Bunnings continues its aggressive expansion of its operational retail footprint.
This commitment to physical stores is a key weapon in its arsenal against online-only retailers and a direct challenge to Kmart’s established presence.
In December, the hardware giant unveiled its largest store in Australia – a colossal five-storey, $48 million warehouse in Frenchs Forest, northern Sydney.
This architectural marvel, so vast that “staff need a map,” boasts three levels of retail, a new kitchen design centre, and even a Beaumont Tiles “store within-store” concept, alongside parking for over 400 cars.
“It’s 101 aisles, it’s taken me a little time to learn where everything is,” store manager Paul Burgess remarked, highlighting the sheer scale and the creation of 120 new local jobs, ranging from 15-year-olds starting their first job to an 82-year-old working in the hardware department.
This flagship store joins Bunnings’ existing network of 310 warehouses and smaller format stores across Australia, which collectively generated a staggering $18.97 billion in revenue in 2024.
Complex Manager Paul Burgess in the new Bunnings at Frenchs Forest. Picture: John Appleyard
Further cementing its physical dominance, Bunnings has recently opened new stores in Portland, Victoria, and Mount Barker, South Australia, reopened the flood-damaged Oxley warehouse in Brisbane, and received approval for another new warehouse in Perth’s Maddington.
The strategic brick-and-mortar expansion by Bunnings, coupled with its burgeoning homewares range, underscores a clear message: the hardware giant is no longer content with just the shed and garden.
The battle for the living room, once primarily Kmart’s and Ikea’s undisputed domain, is now well and truly underway, with Bunnings proving it’s far more than just a hardware store.
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