It's become a day circled on the calendar of every collector, historian and enthusiast in the Shire, and now the Inverell Club's annual auction is returning.
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With COVID-19 stopping last year's event, goods have amassed to contain even more of the quirky, iconic and unique - fancy a 1870s skirt lifter, anyone?
From old badges, bottles, trophies, to one of the most extensive jewellery collections seen in years, there is something for everyone included in the catalogue.
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Organiser Robert Walburn said they'd been fortunate to be given the pick of items from three local estates.
"This years auction is looking like the best yet," he enthused.
"We've had five auctions previously and each year the popularity keeps on growing."
So much so, the committee is looking at hosting a second auction, set to tie in with the Sapphire City Festival later in the year.
Mr Walburn has been impressed at the number of soft drink and ginger beer bottles this year, many hailing from Inverell's early brewing days before the railway.
"Brewers such as Thomas, Egan and Brissett are all represented in the auction by either stoney ginger beers or codd patent marble bottles, some of which were dug in the 1990's by the late Ross Adams, well known bottle collector and historian," he said.
Another crown jewel in the goods is a copy of 'Stone of Destiny', written by iconic Australian author Ion Idriess.
It examines the history of diamond mining in Australia, featuring the Copeton diamond fields.
"Most people in Inverell don't realise that the Staggy Creek diamond mine was the most significant diamond mine in the world in the early 20th century, and some of the area is still available for fossicking - but there's a lot of dirt between the diamonds," Mr Walburn explained.
Club president and auctioneer Peter Squires has had a squizz at the mixed collections, and definitely likes what he sees.
"[T]here's a large number of interesting souvenir editions of The Inverell Times and even an ashtray for the 1899-1949's 50 Year anniversary of Hong Yuens," he said.
The committee has decided to increase the number of auction lots from 500 to 600, with the auctioneering supported by Matthew Mair from John Mair and Co.
"We've added an additional 100 lots but the youth and enthusiasm of Matthew should keep the auction lots moving," Mr Squires noted.
Some of the most unusual items, "conversation pieces", include 12 ridge cap tiles from the original Sacred Heart Catholic Church before its demolition in the 1980s.
There's also a collection of old badges. One celebrates the opening of Copes Creek bridge in 1956, and another is a 1939 fund raising badge for the 'war effort'.
More memorabilia includes a pair of pinback rugby league supporter's badges, when Tingha wore pink and blue and Inverell wore maroon.
The auction will be held at the Club house from 10am on Saturday, with viewing starting from 4pm to 7pm the evening before.
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