The recent Inverell Club antiques and collectables auction was another huge success for both vendors and bidders according to club president and auctioneer Peter Squires.
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"We broke our record number for registered bidders by an incredible 27 per cent with 235 registered bidders attending on the day, of whom just on 200, actually 201 went home with a purchase," Mr Squires said.
"Bidders came from afar as north of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Central Queensland, western NSW almost to the South Australian border. Melbourne - Yes Melbourne! and lots of towns along the east coast from Newcastle to the Tweed."
Given the adverse conditions with rain most of the Friday beforehand the auction organisers were pleased to wake up to clear skies on Saturday morning.
There was a total clearance of the 620 lots with collectables of every description on offer.
Auction organiser Robert Walburn was particularly pleased to see a resurgence in the value of nice colonial furniture in Australian red cedar and English mahogany.
Mr Walburn, who is a well known local furniture restorer said furniture has been "in the doldrums for quite a few years and while we will never see the exceptional prices of the bicentennial late 80's and 90's again it is good to see that solid timber furniture with aged patina was again being respected".
One item of interest in the sale was a vintage ventriloquist doll that actually took over the role of auctioneer and actually sold himself in what the auction team described as akin to cannibalism.
Initially the club held the auctions annually but demand now sees two auctions a year. The auction is completely run on a volunteer basis as a club fund raiser for maintenance of what ranks as one of Inverell's most iconic buildings. The popularity of the auction is now seen as a significant event in the social calendar for the town.
One buyer who travelled from Tweed for the auction commented that the motel he stayed in gave him the last room they had available and to make sure of accommodation for the next auction he's already booked in!
Organisers are now preparing inventory for their next auction in October, saying whatever you collect you might find something on offer.
"We've had a lot of early interest with estate clearances and while we normally can't take all an executor is crazy if they go straight to a garage sale to clear the estate," Mr Squires said.
About 400 of the planned 600 lots are already booked in ranging from an extensive bottle collection to fine furniture.
