If you think self storage is all about dusty boxes and forgotten furniture, think again. Across Australia, people are stuffing their storage units with some seriously unexpected stuff. From the hilarious to the downright bizarre, Aussies have turned these empty spaces into treasure chests of secrets and some of those secrets are weird.

You’ll soon realise storage isn’t just for old mattresses and Christmas decorations. It’s a whole ecosystem of human behaviour. Behind every padlock is a story, and sometimes, that story includes a taxidermied kangaroo or a life-sized cardboard cut- out of Alf Stewart.

Let’s dive into the real self storage examples Australia has gifted the curious, and explore the strange items people store, the creative uses for storage units, and yes, the funny storage unit discoveries you won’t believe actually happened.

1- A Working Model Train City — With Working Traffic Lights

Yes, really. A bloke in Newcastle spent years building a model railway town inside a full- size storage unit. Complete with roads, shops, cars, and a train station, the setup had functioning traffic lights and its own weather system made from a humidifier. Locals described it as “The Mini Gold Coast”. This isn’t just a hobby, it’s a full-blown town with zoning issues.

You’d never expect to find an entire micro-city in a tin box, but that’s the charm of unusual things in storage units. And let’s be honest, building your own town sounds way more fun than stacking boxes.

2- 400 Garden Gnomes and a Suspicious-Looking Flamingo

In Melbourne, one quirky storage unit stored 400 ceramic garden gnomes. Each gnome had a name and most faced the door, as if standing guard. One wore a Carlton scarf. And yes, a suspicious plastic flamingo hovered at the back. This qualifies as a top bizarre self storage story and proves things Aussies keep in storage can be surprisingly theatrical.

3- Black Market Cigarette Cache

Not creative, but illegal. A Four Corners investigation revealed that illicit cigarette smugglers in Brisbane used self‑storage units to stash contraband. According to this ABC news artical, drivers moved cartons of illegal Manchester-brand cigarettes through warehouses and into storage sheds to avoid police raids.

4- A Giant Inflatable Duck (And Yes, It Had a Name)

Some people store cars. Others store a 6-metre-tall inflatable duck named “Dave”. Spotted being wheeled out of a Brisbane storage facility for a charity event, Dave was too large to deflate regularly, so he lived in a climate-controlled unit between appearances.

This is one of those real self storage examples Australia proudly delivers. It might sound strange, but large inflatables, especially branded mascots or event props often need protected storage. For charities, entertainers, and promo teams, storage units offer a reliable base.

If your unit has ever shared a wall with Dave, hats off to you.

 

5- A Taxidermy Collection That May or May Not Be Haunted

A storage unit in Adelaide held over a dozen taxidermy animals, including a wombat, a crow, and what might have been a goat or possibly a wallaby. The unit’s renter was an artist who used them in still-life drawing classes. While totally legal, it spooked nearby renters when the crow ended up facing the door with glowing red eyes (thanks to a prankster nephew and a pair of LED bike lights).

These types of funny storage unit discoveries keep facility managers on their toes.While uncommon, taxidermy pieces are frequently found in artist, theatre, or collector units.

According to Art Guide Australia, taxidermy is increasingly used in Australian contemporary art projects exploring life, death, and identity. That explains the growing number of preserved critters in unexpected places.

Still, if you ever open a storage door and make eye contact with a glowing-eyed goat, back out slowly.

6- A Full Pantry, Complete With 72 Tins of Baked Beans

Storage units aren’t just for your winter doonas and old surfboards. One Sydney renter turned theirs into a backup pantry. Inside: boxes of long-life milk, canned fruit, powdered eggs, and an alarming number of baked bean tins. In total, over 200 pantry items were stacked by expiry date. This wasn’t a doomsday prepper, it was a food blogger preparing for a “365 Days of Pantry Living” challenge.

7- 137 Wigs and a Mannequin Named Sharon

In a Gold Coast storage unit, a drag performer stored 137 wigs, sorted by length, colour, and vibe. Each sat neatly on a foam head. One mannequin, nicknamed “Sharon,” wore full glam year-round and often startled staff during routine inspections.

While hilarious, this isn’t uncommon. Performers, stylists, and stage production crews use storage for props, costumes, and backups. The unit also contained sequinned jackets, three disco balls, and a fog machine.

These weird self storage finds Australia proves style needs space. If your wardrobe doesn’t fit your closet anymore, a unit becomes your backstage dressing room.

Sharon, for the record, is fabulous.

8- A Life-Sized Replica of the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

Stored proudly in a regional Queensland unit, this masterpiece included a painted timber counter, a fibreglass barbecue, condiment bottles glued in place, and a banner reading “Gold Coin Only, Mate.” The owner built it as part of a local theatre production, then kept it for weekend events. It even had fake onions (under the sausage, of course,
Australian standard).

A cheeky nod from Concrete Playground calls the Bunnings sausage sizzle “Australia’s most iconic meal,” making this replica not just hilarious, but culturally significant.

9- A Surfboard Signed by Shane Warne

Stored in Perth, this prized surfboard featured Shane Warne’s signature, alongside two cricket stumps and a cricket ball inside a glass case. The owner stored it after moving interstate, fearing beachside humidity would damage the ink.

Australians value memorabilia. Whether it’s sports gear, vinyl records, or Vegemite- themed collectibles, what people put in storage units often includes items with sentimental and cultural value.

According to SBS News, items like signed surfboards and sports relics frequently appear in auctions—valued not just in dollars but in national pride.

Still reading? The final confession might involve reptiles.

10- Two Turtles, a Heat Lamp, and a Reptile-Sitter’s Handbook

Yes, live animals in storage units are definitely not allowed, but that didn’t stop one renter in regional Victoria from trying. A facility manager doing routine checks found a unit set up like a miniature reptile café. Two turtles named Trevor and Tina were resting comfortably in an aquarium, complete with a heat lamp, lettuce supply, and a laminated sheet titled “Reptile Routine – DO NOT TOUCH”.

Needless to say, Trevor and Tina were evicted by lunchtime and rehomed to more appropriate quarters.

This outrageous moment tops the list of funny storage unit discoveries and serves as a clear reminder: storage units are for stuff, not pets.

So… Why Are Aussies Storing All This Stuff?

The short answer? Space. The long answer? People store the things they love, the things they need, and the things they just can’t let go of yet. Storage units are used for hobbies, collections, backups, work gear, heirlooms, and wild personal projects. What starts as a “temporary solution” often becomes a second home for odd treasures.

Whether it’s a surfboard signed by Shane Warne, a life-sized sausage sizzle, or 137 wigs and one very fabulous mannequin, these bizarre self storage stories show how deeply personal and unexpectedly funny, storage choices can be.

Next time you drive past Storage Choice, don’t just imagine rows of beige boxes and forgotten bikes. Picture a glowing crow, 400 gnomes, a drag queen’s backstage closet, or an inflatable duck named Dave.

Self storage in Australia is anything but boring.

And who knows, your own storage unit could be the next confession worth sharing.

The end. Or is it?