Hammerbarn
On hearing that we were going to the shop, my eldest started chanting "Hammerbarn, Hammerbarn, Hammerbarn" in the book shop. The owner looked on approvingly and told us how he'd managed to score all of the Bluey gnomes for his grandkids
In the TV show Bluey, Hammerbarn is the analogue to Bunnings, which is one of Australia's largest DIY and garden centres. So entwined are the two that the for-real-life Bunnings regularly rebrands as Hammerbarn and sells a host of Bluey-themed home and garden goods (including the aforementioned gnomes)
Our kids love Hammerbarn. We love Hammerbarn. Going to Hammerbarn on a weekend is probably one of the most Australian things we do.
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The kids love Hammerbarn because every shop has a playground. They run regular DIY and craft workshops for the kids on weekends. But most importantly, they have tiny kid-sized trollies which the kids love running into the merchandise, each other, and other customers
We love Hammerbarn because next to every playground there is usually a decent café. Dogs are allowed in store and it's a common sight to see small and medium dogs being pushed around in the bed of a trolley. (I think I spotted five today)
But the main reason to love a Hammerbarn is the sausage sizzle. To the uninitiated, the sausage sizzle is Australia's unpretentious take on a hot dog, basically a cheap sausage wrapped in a slice of bread. It is one of my favourite things about living in Australia and New Zealand and Bunnings hosts people selling them every weekend to raise money for charities. It's amazing and I love it and if I could import one thing about life in Australia to the UK, it would be the sizzle
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