Best Auction Houses & Dealers in Australia

The best Australian auction houses compared — Smith & Singer, Leonard Joel, Leski, and Shapiro. Aboriginal art, Australian paintings, jewellery, fees, and how to sell at auction in Australia.

4 Auction Houses

0 Dealers

4 Total Listings

The Australian Auction Market

Australia has a vibrant, well-established auction market centred on Melbourne and Sydney, with particular depth in Australian Impressionist and modern painting, Aboriginal art, fine jewellery, and collectibles.

Smith & Singer — which operated as Sotheby's Australia until 2020 — is one of the country's premium fine-art houses, handling important Aboriginal, Australian, and European art. Leonard Joel, founded in Melbourne, is among Australia's oldest and most broadly based houses, while Leski specialises in collectibles, sporting memorabilia, and numismatics. In Sydney, Shapiro Auctioneers is a respected boutique house for fine art, 20th-century design, and jewellery.

Buyer's premiums at Australian houses are typically around 25% and are quoted inclusive of GST (Goods and Services Tax). Sellers benefit from a strong domestic collector base, especially for Australian and Aboriginal art, which usually achieves its best results at home.

Leonard Joel

Auction House

Australia's oldest auction house, established 1919, specializing in fine art, jewellery, and distinguished private collections.

Melbourne Est. 1919 Online Bidding

Leski Auctions

Auction House

Melbourne's specialist in Australiana, historical documents, sporting memorabilia, and world philately since 1973.

Melbourne Est. 1973 Online Bidding

Shapiro Auctioneers

Auction House

Sydney boutique auctioneer of fine art, jewellery and design since 1995.

Sydney Est. 1995 Online Bidding

Smith & Singer

Auction House

Australia's premium fine art auctioneer, formerly Sotheby's Australia.

Sydney Est. 2020 Online Bidding

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Frequently Asked Questions

Australia's leading auction houses include Smith & Singer (formerly Sotheby's Australia), Leonard Joel (Melbourne, one of the oldest), Leski (collectibles and memorabilia), and Shapiro Auctioneers (Sydney fine art and jewellery). The right house depends on whether you are selling fine art, jewellery, or collectibles.

Australian auctions are strongest in Australian Impressionist and modern paintings, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, fine and estate jewellery, sporting memorabilia, coins, and 20th-century design. Aboriginal art in particular attracts strong international as well as domestic interest.

Buyer's premiums at Australian houses are typically around 25% and, unlike in Europe, are usually quoted inclusive of GST (Goods and Services Tax). Seller's commissions are negotiable and depend on the value and category of the item.

Yes. Australian auction houses accept international consignments and can arrange transport and insurance. Australian and Aboriginal art generally achieves the best prices within Australia. Certain culturally significant objects may be subject to the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act, and reputable houses advise on this.