The $42 million store at Canberra Airport, that sits on a 13,000 square-metre block, was opened by the head of Australian national rugby team Mal Meninga. The store had a quiet opening last week.

The franchise, which already has a store in nearby Fyshwick, also operates in Gungahlin, Belconnen and Tuggeranong.  Bunnings has a total of 326 stores across Australia.

Last year, The Canberra Times reported the former site of Masters Home Improvement Store at Majura Park near Canberra airport would be home to a new Bunnings Warehouse.

Bunnings acquired the former Masters site after Woolworths closed the doors of its chain in 2016.

In August last year, Home Consortium announced the acquisition of 61 Masters properties and indicated a number would be repositioned as Bunnings centres rather than developed as Home Consortium Centres.

At the time, Bunnings acquired 15 Masters sites, however it did not confirm whether the Canberra store was among them.

More than 900 people are employed by Bunnings in the ACT. The franchise employed 180 people for the new store, of that 140 new staff while 40 were relocated from other stores.

The new store has a trade drive-tru, nine kitchen displays, four bathroom displays and more than 400 parking spaces.

Nearby Fyshwick will continue operating.