Smith & Singer

About Smith & Singer

Smith & Singer is one of Australia's leading fine art auction houses, with salerooms and exhibition spaces in Sydney and Melbourne. It is led by chairman Geoffrey Smith and chief executive Gary Singer.

The house focuses on Australian and international art, including Aboriginal art. Its website also lists a Jewels and Watches department. It handles auctions, private sales and selling exhibitions, and represents several artists and artists' estates.

History

The business was established in 1983 as Sotheby's Australia, bringing the international Sotheby's auction model to Australia. It became wholly owned by Sotheby's in 1995. In 2009 Geoffrey Smith and Gary Singer acquired the rights to run Sotheby's Australia under licence.

The licence was not renewed at the end of its ten-year term, and from 1 January 2020 the company traded as Smith & Singer. The last sale under the Sotheby's Australia name was Important Jewels on 4 December 2019. The first public auction as Smith & Singer was held on 26 May 2020.

• 1983: established as Sotheby's Australia
• 1995: becomes wholly owned by Sotheby's
• 2009: Geoffrey Smith and Gary Singer take over under licence
• 2020: renamed Smith & Singer

What they sell

The core of the business is Important Australian and International Art sales, covering traditional, modern, contemporary and Aboriginal art. Artists who appear often include Brett Whiteley, Sidney Nolan, Fred Williams, Arthur Streeton, Clarice Beckett, Charles Blackman and Emily Kam Kngwarreye.

By the firm's account, its April 2026 sale was the highest-value art auction ever held in Australia, totalling $23,625,625 including buyer's premium. It was led by:

• Brett Whiteley, Woman on the Beach Reading an Art Catalogue (1980): $3,750,000
• Sidney Nolan, Ned Kelly and Horse (1955): $3,375,000, the second-highest auction result for the artist
• Russell Drysdale, Drovers on the Barkly's (1957): $1,890,000
• Cressida Campbell, Parsley Bay, Sydney (1992): $750,000, an auction record for the artist

The August 2026 sale totalled $10,729,435 including premium and set an auction record for Jenny Watson. The November 2025 sale totalled $9,409,376, with a sold rate of 113% by value and 79% by volume. In that sale, Dorrit Black's Sicilian Mountain (1928) set a world auction record for the artist at $687,500.

Beyond auctions, Smith & Singer exclusively represents artists Criss Canning and John Kelly. It also represents the estates of Albert Tucker, David Larwill and Akio Makigawa, and presents selling exhibitions of their work.

Selling

Sellers can ask the specialists for a confidential appraisal or use the online estimate form. The house works with private collectors, estates, institutions and corporate collections, and offers private sales and selling exhibitions as well as auction. Commission terms are not published.

Buying and bidding

Major sales of Australian and international art are held several times a year. Recent examples were held in November 2025, April 2026 and August 2026. Bidders take part in the saleroom, by telephone or online through the house's internet bidding and live-stream service.

• Buyer's premium: 25% of the hammer price including GST, according to the firm's glossary
• Online sales: the general conditions for its online auction platform set the premium at 22% of the hammer price plus GST, unless a catalogue says otherwise
• Results: published online in Australian dollars after each sale, usually including the premium

Location

Smith & Singer operates from Sydney and Melbourne, with specialists and exhibition spaces in both cities. Major sales are held in its salerooms, and bidders across Australia and overseas take part by phone and online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smith & Singer the former Sotheby's Australia?

Yes. Geoffrey Smith and Gary Singer ran Sotheby's Australia under licence from 2009. They renamed the business Smith & Singer from 1 January 2020, when the licence was not renewed.

What is Smith & Singer's buyer's premium?

The firm's glossary gives 25% of the hammer price including GST. The online auction conditions state 22% plus GST unless a catalogue says otherwise.

Where does Smith & Singer hold its auctions?

It has salerooms and exhibition spaces in Sydney and Melbourne. Bidders can also take part by telephone or online.