The 5 Best Auction Houses in Sydney Where You Can Bid for Hard-to-Find Items!
When buying or selling items, visiting the best auction houses in Sydney can give you loads of options, from fine art to rare collectibles you’ll only find in antique shops. But navigating the fast-paced world of bidding can be intimidating.
Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with our top places that will show you exciting deals, whether you’re a seasoned collector hunting or a property investor seeking your next big asset.
Here are our tried-and-tested spots to ensure your next transaction is as smooth as possible!
How much does an auction cost in Sydney?
Auction houses in Sydney can charge anywhere from $150 to $10,000+, depending on the item and its rarity.
| Expense Category | Estimated Cost |
| Auctioneer Fee | $400 – $1,000 |
| Marketing Campaign | $4,500 – $10,000 |
| Conveyancing and Legal Fees | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Property Staging and Styling | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Mortgage Discharge Fee | $150 – $1,500 |
1. Lawsons Auctioneers & Valuers
Website: http://lawsons.com.au/
Address: 8-16 Moore Street, Leichhardt
Contact: +612 9566 2377
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Lawsons Auctioneers & Valuers has a rich heritage that dates back to 1884. Now, they have a modern, digital-first platform that gives buyers around the globe access to a classic bidding environment.
They’re especially notable for their dedicated monthly Indigenous Art sale, providing a carefully curated selection of traditional and contemporary works.
Beyond their standard weekly art sales designed for varying budgets, they also provide formal, no-obligation written valuations through accredited experts.
We actually spoke with a local collector last month who secured a stunning piece through this exact event. Aside from the item they secured, they praised the seamless remote bidding app.
However, you need to be prepared for an incredibly tight turnaround if you win, as they demand payment and collection within just 24 hours. Also, their formal valuation services require a fee even if you decide not to sell the item through them.
Professional, ethical, and transparent services
Great communications – good , solid feedback on stock given to them for auction and sales done and funds due for auctioned items. Amount obtained from sales were fair, one always hopes for more ,but overall fair prices were received on sold items. Unlike some of the other auctioneers out there who are scoundrals at best Lawsons were honest and run an ethical and professional business.
They answer questions fairly quickly with well thought out and concise answers. Very professional . pleasure to deal with them.
- Robin Fisher | Google Review
Efficient, helpful, and personable staff
Huge ups to the team working at Lawsons auction house. Not only are they incredibly efficient and helpful they’re wonderfully personable. I hit Lawsons almost once a week and genuinely look forward to that time of day. ESPECIALLY to see Samantha (the gorgeous woman working behind the desk) Jason (Absolute cracker Kiwi and my go to guy) and Trent (Ex-removalist, expert tetris van packing guy). Always a pleasure!
- Annie Tids | Google Review
2. Scerri Auctions
Website: https://www.scerriauctions.com.au/
Address: 1 O’Connell St
Contact: 0416 110 782 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
We like Scerri Auctions for using high-quality green screen technology and studio lighting to host highly engaging online property sales.
Their two-way buyer interaction platform is specifically made to maintain bidder enthusiasm and secure premium results for residential and commercial assets.
Plus, they complement these cutting-edge digital tools by taking care of all the necessary administrative paperwork, allowing sellers to focus entirely on their upcoming transition.
The auctioneers here are highly skilled at reading the mood of the room, even adjusting their approach to maximise competitive bidding.
Unfortunately, booking an in-room event at their CBD venue comes with a strict non-refundable fee, so you have to absorb the financial risk even if the property sells prior.
Also, their in-room schedule is quite restricted, operating exclusively on a fortnightly Tuesday evening rotation.
Professional auctioneer made process easy
We had a great experience working with Chris Scerri as our auctioneer. The final result exceeded our expectations by around 5%, and his calm, professional approach on auction day made the whole process much less stressful. He managed the room well, kept the momentum going without pressure, and delivered a result we’re very happy with. Would happily recommend Chris to anyone selling via auction.
- Edward Liu | Google Review
Expertise delivered excellent auction results
I recently had the opportunity to work with Chris Scerri for the sale of my property, and I couldn’t be happier with the results! Thanks to his expertise, we achieved an excellent price at auction that exceeded my expectations.
From the very beginning, Chris demonstrated a deep understanding of the market and a strategic approach that really paid off. His professionalism and enthusiasm created a positive atmosphere during the auction, which clearly resonated with the bidders.
Thank you, Chris, for your hard work and dedication!
- Sanghyun Lee | Google Review
3. Barsby Auctions
Website: https://barsbyauctions.com.au/
Address: 13 – 17 Cleg St., Artarmon
Contact: 02 9439 7432| [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
One of our picks, Barsby Auctions, specialises in deceased estates and downsizing to alleviate the burden of major life transitions.
They also offer free verbal valuations by appointment and, incredibly, don’t charge any fees for unsold items or catalogue illustrations.
As a boutique operation, they stick to a personalised service. This includes detailed condition reports or digital previews upon request prior to the sale.
Buyers must be aware, though, that acquiring items here involves a rather steep 20% buyer’s premium plus GST.
You should also know that invoices left unpaid four days post-sale are immediately hit with a 5% late commission penalty alongside daily storage charges.
Highly professional and ethical auctioneer
I have been dealing with David Barsby Auctions for 5 years now. David is highly professional with very strong ethics. He has a very high level of integrity and honesty. I have both bought and sold through Barsby Auction House and never experienced the slightest difficulty. His staff are efficient polite and display courtesy at all times. Highly recommended to do business with.
Kerry J Wilson Collaroy NSW
- Kerry Wilson | Google Review
Courteous service for novice user
I have bought many thousands of dollars of items from David Barbsy at his auctions and am pleased with how he And his staff have treated me. From the very start as a novice auction user, he treated me with courtesy and was extremely helpful. I note there are other negative comments in this section and can only put it down to the eccentric types who are attracted to auctions and sometimes have inflated views of their importance. Keep up the good work David, and I look forward to another fruitful auctioning year through your auction house.😀
- Sue Van-cuylenburg | Google Review
4. Auction Warehouse
Website: https://auctionwarehouse.com.au/
Address: 33 Berry Street | Auction Rooms: 128 Milperra Road, Revesby
Contact: 4 2519 9909 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
With over a century of expertise, Auction Warehouse stands out for having a vast inventory. Their selections move quickly through flexible purchasing channels, like live bidding and direct buy-it-now options.
We found many shoppers who normally browse traditional furniture stores often pivot here to score clearance items at heavy discounts.
You also get a layer of buyer protection, as they happily refund any lot marked as Tested Working if it fails to function.
Their accessible weekend events also make it easy for the general public to inspect and bid on everything, from whitegoods to liquidation stock.
On the downside, they strictly don’t offer delivery or loading assistance, so you need to organise your own heavy lifting. Winning bidders also face rigid deadlines and will incur a $50 daily storage fee per item left behind past the pickup window.
Awesome team and quality items
We purchased some items and furniture from Auction Warehouse Revesby and can’t fault the prices and quality. Aaron and his team were awesome to deal with and went above and beyond to assist me. Thank you so much Auction Warehouse team. Wishing you many years of success.
- Patricia Ibrahim | Google Review
Simple and fast valuation process
I met the staff of Auction Warehouse at their corporate office in Berry St North Sydney regarding a valuation of my plant and equipment which was required for insurance purposes. The valuers there have extensive knowledge of equipment and values also the valuation. process was simple and fast. I had my valuation on letterhead within a week.
- lorenzo Giunti | Google Review
5. Charleston’s Fine Art Auctions
Website: https://charlestons.com.au/
Address: 5/10A Aylesbury Street, Botany
Contact: 02 9318 2680 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Charleston’s Fine Art Auctions successfully brings high-quality art directly to capital cities and regional spots across Australia.
We appreciate that they stand firmly behind their cataloguing accuracy, offering buyer protection if an item fails to match its provided description.
For sellers downsizing, they offer an exceptional home contents service where they manage the entire online event and let you keep 100% of the hammer price.
Art enthusiasts can also bid with confidence, as they provide robust certificates of provenance for their genuine Aboriginal artworks and precise “lost wax” bronze sculptures.
However, attendees must be prepared for a very restricted viewing window, as inspections are limited to just an hour and a half before the sale begins.
Also, winning bidders are entirely responsible for handling the delivery and transit insurance of large goods once the hammer falls.
Consistent quality and easy navigation
This is the second time I’ve bought items from Charleston’s and I love the quality (and the price) of the paintings bought. All items have accurate information provided and the first time was through bidding prior to auction and the last time was via the live auction. Both ways were no problem to navigate. Will certainly buy through this method again.
- Karen H | Google Review
Seamless online auction experience
As a first time online buyer of art I was excited and a little apprehensive.
However the process for bidding prior to auction proved seamless, as did participation on the day. I purchased Two items. Post auction communication was instant and delivery of the artworks quick and efficient. Overall a great experience!
- Susan Kohler | Google Review