The former PM bought an old fridge on Gumtree and it’s become a huge media event. Guardian Australia goes behind the headlines to reveal the inside story

The former prime minister’s purchase of a second-hand fridge on Gumtree has proved an explosive news story this week, with hundreds of column inches across the Australian media dedicated to Tony Abbott’s new/old appliance.

It all began on Saturday afternoon when Abbott arrived at the house of Emmanuel and Emily Hastings, in the Sydney suburb of Newport, to collect a large fridge his wife had bought on the trading website. After an image was posted on social media, the media machine went into overdrive covering the story.

Tony Abbott buys a second-hand fridge from Emmanuel Hastings, the husband of the photographer. Photograph: Emily Hastings/Instagram

So what’s the story of this fridge, and why did Abbott pick it? Guardian Australia spoke, in depth, to the fridge’s previous owners.



Is it a good fridge?

“It was a really great fridge,” Emmanuel Hastings, the fridge’s former owner told Guardian Australia. “We wouldn’t be selling it if we weren’t moving overseas. We’d had it for about three years. We actually bought it off Gumtree ourselves.”

What drew the former prime minister to this particular fridge?

“The fridge had been on eBay for about a week,” Emmanuel said. Despite clean, sleek surfaces and an energy rating of 2.5 stars, it wasn’t selling, so he and his wife Emily made sure they had an array of photos to showcase the attributes of the fridge online. “It spent some more time on Gumtree. Then I paid to get the ad bumped up, and the next day Margie Abbott contacted me.”

What precautions did the Abbott family take before the purchase?

It was the first time Margie Abbott had used Gumtree, Emmanuel revealed. New to the world of e-commerce, she checked that she could look at the fridge first – in real life – before she bought it.

On Gumtree, she was listed simply as Margie. When she came to inspect the fridge, Emily recognised her. After Margie left, Emily Googled her to confirm her hunch: it was indeed the wife of the former PM. Days later, Margie contacted the couple to see if they had a trolley to help her husband when he came to pick up the fridge. They knew then who to expect on Saturday.

How much space is there on the door to display things – for example, a certificate from a design college?

“I think it would definitely hold certificates,” Emmanuel confirmed. “We had a photo of a Compassion child, but that’s about it.”

How many compartments does the fridge have?

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tony Abbott’s Gumtree fridge once held items as diverse as frozen berries, chilli sauce and cream. Photograph: Emmanuel Hastings

The main body has five sections: three shelves and two “chiller” compartments with plenty of space for onions, plus another five storage areas in the door. The freezer section has two shelves and three door compartments, and the fridge has a total storage capacity of 320l.

What sort of things is the fridge accustomed to storing?

“We usually kept a lot of stir fry condiments in the fridge. Sriracha sauce, for example.”

Would a fully grown man of about 5’11” be able to fit inside the fridge if he so chose?

“Maybe just, if you took all the shelves out,” Emmanuel speculated.

Is this the first time the fridge has been at the centre of an international media storm?

We can answer this: yes.

However, the fridge did star in a short film by Emily, an excerpt of which is below.

The fridge is only in shot for a few seconds during a party scene and remains calmly in the background, keeping various items of food and drink cool with minimal fuss.

We don’t know what role the fridge may play in the Abbotts’ lives. But what did it mean for its former owners?

“The fridge was a metaphor for our marriage – chilled. It was useful for keeping things cool. As it was near the front door, it really welcomed people into our home.”