Inside This Week’s Canberra Auction Market – 40 Upcoming Sales inc Taxidermy, Fossils & Natural Rubies

This is one of auctionbarn’s most in-demand sales, and the mix explains why. Oddities, specimens, books, prints and scientific equipment all feature, so the catalogue rewards a slow read rather than a quick scan.

Standouts include five large natural rubies across a range of cuts, each with GemStone Authentication Reports, plus a pair of RAM 1992 ‘International Year of Space’ coins, one a $5 proof and the other a sleeved uncirculated issue. Coin buyers should note the proof box and case show faults while the coin itself is in excellent condition.

Elsewhere there’s a run of natural history: four animal teeth specimens the vendor reports as Beaver, Bandicoot and Water Buffalo, a framed dinosaur eggshell fossil, an entombed scorpion in amber-like resin, and carved stone animals with shell and crystal specimens. A set of Kensitas ‘Flowers’ woven silk cigarette cards from the 1930s, still in their original pamphlets with symbolism, etymology and cultural notes, rounds out the vintage end of the sale.

This is a weekly curated drop of furniture, lighting, decor and framed works, put together for anyone refreshing a room or chasing a specific era. The mix leans mid-century and retro Australian: a Forest Hill armchair in textured corduroy on a turned timber frame, a Parker corner display cabinet with glass shelves and a mirrored back, and a mid century entertainment wall unit with open shelving, a drop front bar and lower cabinet storage. Damage to the back base corner on that unit is worth a look before you bid.

Smaller pieces round out the catalogue. There’s an Italianate side table on a ceramic cherub plinth with an octagonal marble-look top, a vintage brass-tone table lamp with frosted glass shade that powers up, a tall timber occasional shelf in lilac rustic paint, and an antique style credenza with matching bevelled mirror. A rectangular gold tone mirror and a decorative birch tree with LED-tipped branches fill out the decor side.

Two lots need honest work. An early 20th century timber chiffonier is listed for restoration, with sculpted backboard and turned columns needing repair. A black-painted outdoor sofa or day bed shows significant surface wear from outdoor exposure. Everything else is described as good used condition with minor marks. Inspect before bidding.

The Wray family silver is the thread running through this sale. The Irish salver carries the conjoined arms of Jackson Wray and Leonora Boyd, their marriage dated by the heraldry to the mid-1700s, with the family motto ‘Et Juste et Vray’ and an ostrich crest. It weighs about 865g and is assay marked to the underside with the Dublin harp and seated Hibernia. A Hardy Brothers sterling snuff box from Chester, 1911, is engraved with initials possibly belonging to George Cecil Gore Wray, a later descendant, and still holds traces of snuff inside.

Beyond the silver, the jewellery and coin lots carry their own weight. There is an 18ct gold solitaire set with a large brilliant cut diamond, a 22ct gold 1883 Queen Victoria sovereign struck in Melbourne with the Young Head portrait, two Perth Mint Kookaburra silver coins from 1990 and 1991 in hard cases, a 1937 Australian crown, and a pair of Reed & Barton Francis I oyster forks.

The watch and object lots round things out. Two vintage rectangular mechanicals are on offer, a Waltham in a 10ct gold plated case with a small seconds dial, and a Movado with roman numerals. A c.1970 Timex Skindiver with a blue dial and date window is described as ideal for a light refurbishment. Also listed: a green jade Imperial style seal carved with a crouching dragon, a sterling

This is a proper mixed bag for anyone who collects the natural world, from kids starting a rock shelf to seasoned fossickers chasing display pieces. Standouts include a carved marbled stone bear figurine standing 14.5 cm, an emerald crystal in quartz on a timber stand, and a ten-piece quartz crystal collection, all mounted and ready to show.

Fossil fans get a look in too, with Leptolepis Talbragarensis fish fossils from NSW measuring 15.5 cm across. There’s also rutile in quartz, scolecite in quartz, a calcite rhombioid crystal, and a four-piece lot of carved quartz hearts with native copper.

Most specimens come mounted on timber stands, so display is sorted. Sizes are noted lot by lot, and where a measurement includes the stand, that’s flagged. Worth a look if you want real specimens without paying gallery prices.

The storage lots are the headline act here. You’ve got HP’s 3TB SATA drives in a lot of three, plus a pair of 10TB units: one HGST SAS 12Gbps and one Western Digital Purple Pro, the latter built for surveillance systems. If you’re running a NAS or a small server room, these are worth a serious look, especially if the bidding stays sensible.

On the computing side, the iMac is a Late 2012 model with a Core i5 and 21.5-inch screen, so it’s not cutting edge, but it’ll handle office work or light creative tasks without complaint. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is a basic Celeron laptop, fine for browsing and documents. The Dell 23-inch monitors and Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 LTE tablets round out the practical gear for a home office or small business refresh.

Networking types should check the HP 2920-48G switch. It’s a managed PoE+ unit with 48 gigabit ports, the kind of thing that usually costs real money new. If you’re building out a warehouse, workshop, or campus network, this could be the bargain of the lot. Allbids is running the sale in the ACT, so factor in pickup logistics before you bid.

The collectables side is strong here. The Galaxy Invader 1000 is a proper slice of late-70s gaming history, and the Sturmanskie Amphibia is a serious mechanical diver’s piece, not a fashion watch. Wrestling fans get a pair of vintage Nikolai Volkoff WWF figurines, while the Barbie lot includes boxed Teresa and Ken figures.

Jewellery and accessories cover a fair spread: a 14ct yellow gold and smoky quartz ring in size O, a 925 sterling silver Siam brooch and earrings set at 19.56gms, plus a sterling hematite pendant on a 40cm chain alongside a multistrand cultured pearl wire necklace. There’s also a nine-lot collection of gold and silver tone necklaces.

Pop culture odds and ends round it out. A vintage canvas Wonder Woman backpack, a Russell Super Coca-Cola yo-yo with its original spare string, and an unframed daybill poster for *Batteries Not Included* (a M.A.P.S. lithographic print) should draw a look. The opals are uncut, so they’re for someone who knows how to spot a stone’s potential. Closes 4 August.

The live auction portion is where the big-ticket items sit. The Chubb Australian Open 2027 Experience is the headline, and the Multicut Diamond Charm Necklace offers something for jewellery buyers. There’s also a Mossology art piece from Ronan Moss and a Contentious Character Urban Winery Experience for the Canberra region.

For those after practical gear, the 8 Classes Pilates Pack at KX Kingston is a solid local option, and the Kenwood Chef mixer comes with the instruction manual and cookbook, so it’s ready to go straight out of the box. The 90 Days to Dominance digital marketing package from Region Media is aimed at small businesses looking to sharpen their online presence.

The trek-for-two lot is the one to weigh up, as it includes a choice of Machu Picchu or Kokoda plus the Flight Centre voucher for flights. Bidding closes 14 August 2026, so there’s time to pick your lot and decide how far you want to push it.

The two-wheelers are the headline act here. The GIANT TRANCE X 29ER is a proper trail machine for anyone wanting a capable dual-suspension rig without paying retail. For a bit of nostalgia, the MALVERN STAR Oppy is a classic Aussie steel frame, while the TRINX Mountain Bike offers a more budget-friendly entry point. If you’re after something motorised, the SEGWAY NINEBOT Max G30 is a well-known commuter scooter with solid range, and there’s also the NINEBOT F-Series and a WOLONGGU electric scooter to consider.

Beyond the bikes, the lot list covers the rest of the active lifestyle. The MADD GEAR Origin Team stunt scooter is a genuine brand for the younger riders or park enthusiasts. For camping, a KINGS Swag is always handy for a weekend away, and it’s a brand that holds its value in the second-hand market. With 38 lots, it’s a mixed bag of recreational gear that suits anyone kitting themselves out for summer. Check the photos carefully for condition on the electric scooters, as battery health is the main thing to factor into your bid.

Allbids has put together a wine auction that leans heavily on the flashy end of the bottle shop, and the Lamborghini range is the main event. The Luxe Titanio Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese carries a $199 RRP, while the Torami Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese sits at $178. If you’re after something with bubbles, the DJ Luminoso Pinot Noir Chardonnay Brut NV is listed at $289 per bottle, and it also appears as a six-pack case with a combined RRP of $1734.

Sparkling drinkers get plenty of options. The Legend Rose Metodo Classico Vintage Organic Sparkling Pinot Noir comes in a case of six, also totalling $1734, while The Legend Metodo Classico Vintage Organic Sparkling Pinot Noir is offered as a lot of three bottles at $867 total. There’s also a Magnum Lamborghini in the mix, which is worth chasing if you want something for a serious dinner party or a display shelf.

Bidding closes 14 August 2026, so there’s time to work through the list. Check the full lot details on the allbids site for vintage years and bottle sizes, and factor in any buyer’s premium before you commit. Wine auctions like this can throw up decent value if you stick to the cases rather than the single bottles.

Pickles is running this one as an end of an era sale for Flexible Australia, clearing out a Canberra workshop along with its spare parts and sundries. It is a working workshop dispersal rather than a curated collection, which usually means practical gear and stacked lots rather than showpieces.

The spare parts side is the drawcard if you run similar equipment or just want to build up stock. Sundries lots tend to go cheap because bidders chase the big-ticket items first, so there is value in the tail end of the catalogue.

Inspect before you bid, particularly on used workshop machinery and parts where condition varies lot to lot.