Australians are turning their homes into modern-day bunkers as fears over global instability fuel a boom in veggie gardens, solar batteries, water tanks and self-sufficiency upgrades.
New research from Money.com.au reveals more than half the country is either already preparing their homes for an uncertain future or planning to — despite most refusing to identify as “preppers”.
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New research has found more Queenslanders are growing their own food amid cost-of-living pressures and global uncertainty. Picture: Andy Rogers.
New research from Money.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, reveals one in six Australians have already physically modified their homes in preparation for an uncertain future, while more than a third are planning to do the same.
The findings suggest “prepper culture” is rapidly moving into the mainstream, with more than half of Australians now taking steps to make their homes more self-sufficient.
The research found 16 per cent of Australians had already made changes to their properties in response to global instability, while another 37 per cent planned to follow.
The cost of groceries and fuel are putting more pressure on households.
But most do not identify as survivalists or “doomsday preppers”.
Instead, researchers found a growing cohort of what they described as the “practical middle” — everyday Australians making small, affordable changes to improve self-sufficiency and resilience.
“This isn’t a story about survivalists,” said Peter Drennan, Head of Research and Data at Primara Research.
“It’s about a growing group of practical Australians making conscious decisions about their most valuable asset. The prepper label is almost a distraction. The mainstream is quietly doing the same thing to their homes.”
The first step for many households is surprisingly simple: growing food.
| WHERE ARE AUSTRALIA’S MOST SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSEHOLDS? | |||||
| NSW | QLD | VIC | WA | SA | |
| Growing own food | 44% | 57% | 46% | 49% | 39% |
| Energy self-sufficiency | 41% | 47% | 43% | 38% | 32% |
| Stockpiling fuel/supplies | 28% | 33% | 22% | 19% | 23% |
| Buying an EV/PHEV | 29% | 23% | 25% | 25% | 23% |
| Rainwater harvesting | 24% | 22% | 22% | 29% | 26% |
| Security infrastructure | 17% | 15% | 14% | 16% | 23% |
| Going fully off-grid | 14% | 12% | 12% | 13% | 11% |
| Relocating rural/regional | 12% | 12% | 11% | 15% | 11% |
| Extra storage/outbuildings | 17% | 8% | 7% | 14% | 11% |
| Source: Primara Research | |||||
Veggie gardens are becoming more popular in suburban backyards. Picture: Fawcett Media.
More than half of Australians in the “practical middle” said they were planning or already growing their own produce, while even among those who rejected the prepper label entirely, 38 per cent said they intended to start.
Researchers said the trend reflected rising concerns about economic instability, supply chains, energy prices and cost of living pressures.
The study also found buyers increasingly viewed solar systems, battery storage, water tanks and off-grid capability as essential property features rather than lifestyle extras.
Food production and water security ranked closely behind energy independence on the list of priorities when purchasing a home.
Among self-described preppers, security and storage upgrades were particularly common, with many investing in outbuildings, storage facilities and additional home security infrastructure.
The biggest obstacle, however, remains affordability.
Nick Burgess, Money.com.au. Image supplied.
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Almost six in 10 Australians said cost was the only thing stopping them from making further changes to their homes.
“When people want to act now, they start with what is practical and affordable, growing food, making small changes,” Mr Drennan said.
“But when they are buying, the stakes are higher. Energy independence tops the list, but food production, water security, connectivity and storage all come into play.
“Self-sufficiency is becoming a property checklist, and it is only going to get longer.”
Money.com.au’s property expert Nick Burgess said Australians were increasingly treating self-sufficiency features like veggie gardens, solar power and water storage as both a lifestyle upgrade and a financial safeguard against rising household costs and future disruptions.
“We’re seeing more Australians view self-sufficiency as part financial strategy, part lifestyle choice,” Mr Burgess said. “Rising grocery prices and energy costs are encouraging households to think more carefully about how they can use their property to offset those expenses.
More households are looking to renewable energy sources, like solar, to save money.
“When you add rising interest rates, insurance premiums and fuel costs into the mix, growing your own food is becoming less of a hobby and more of a practical way for families to regain some control over everyday living costs. It beats taking on another job when you can grow your own food to help put meals on the table.”
Mr Burgess said more households were also developing a preparedness mindset.
“Many households now want homes that can operate more independently during disruptions, whether that means solar batteries, water storage or access to home-grown food,” he said.
“At the same time, the rise of so-called ‘crunchy’ social media content around homesteading, veggie gardens, backyard chickens and low-tox living has helped normalise the idea of producing more at home. What was once considered niche or alternative is increasingly becoming mainstream, particularly among younger families and homeowners.”
Climate-smart home upgrades such as solar panels, batteries, insulation, heat pumps and passive design are already saving households an estimated $3 billion a year, with average savings of around $1500 per year, per home, according to the Clean Energy Council.
More than 240 homes across Australia will take part this weekend in Sustainable House Day 2026, with over 150 opening in person and more than 90 featured online.
The event is Australia’s largest community-led showcase of climate-smart housing, with households opening their doors to demonstrate practical ways to reduce energy bills, improve comfort and build resilience to extreme weather.
Helen Oakey, CEO of not-for-profit organisation, Renew Australia, said people were feeling the impacts of extreme heat, rising energy costs, and unreliable power, and were looking for practical ways to respond.
“Climate action doesn’t just start in Parliament, it starts in our living rooms, kitchens and on our rooftops,” Ms Oakey said.
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