"Hurry up and sell it to me!" Bidders' drama as smaller capitals fire up auctions

Australia's auction market defied the winter slowdown this week, delivering its strongest preliminary clearance rate since July 2024 at 74.5 percent. A total of 2,103 auctions were held across the country, an increase of 4.9 percent on the previous week and 3.6 percent higher than the same time last year.

Brisbane led the way with 143 auctions, the busiest week outside the major cities. The Queensland capital posted a preliminary clearance rate of 76.1 percent, up sharply from 66.7 percent a week earlier and its best early result in nearly a year.

Adelaide also impressed, hosting 97 auctions with a preliminary success rate of 80.8 percent, rising from 77.5 percent the previous week. Canberra recorded its highest preliminary clearance rate since early May, with 63.8 percent of 66 auctions returning a positive result.

Melbourne remained the nation's busiest market with 1,000 homes going under the hammer. Preliminary results show a clearance rate of 75.2 percent, slightly below last week's 76.6 percent (revised down to 65.6 percent), marking the ninth straight week above the 70 percent mark. Sydney followed with 784 auctions and a preliminary clearance rate of 73.5 percent, unchanged from the week prior (later revised to 67.6 percent).

Looking ahead, auction volumes are expected to ease. Around 1,770 homes are scheduled to go to auction next week, dropping to approximately 1,430 the following week. But for now, despite the cold, the smaller capitals are keeping the auction market hot.

Big home, big result. Croydon Park family cracker hits $1.7m

A striking family residence in Croydon Park has changed hands for $1.7 million after a confident five-way bidding battle, sealing one of the suburb's top recent sales.

Set on a generous 778-square-metre block, 38 Crossley Avenue attracted a whopping 180 inspections in the lead-up to auction. With its grand double-door entry, designer kitchen, detached studio and multiple living zones, the seven-year-old home ticked every box for growing or multi-generational families.

Under moody skies that reluctantly suppressed the rain, the auction drew a crowd of 60. Bidding kicked off at $1 million and climbed steadily with no pauses, as five parties competed for the keys. The final result landed well above the area average, with the home sold to a local family drawn to its spacious floor plan and outdoor entertaining spaces.

LJ Hooker's Phuong Nguyen, who has worked the area for over a decade, said the sale reflected both the calibre of the property and the strong appeal of the neighbourhood. "Croydon Park serves its people well," she said. "This home offered space, quality and flexibility. The buyers saw all of that."

Built and held by the same family since construction just seven years ago, the home is poised to serve its new family who plan to make the most of its scale and sophistication.

Slick design and city glimpses spark fierce Brinawa Street bidding

A sleek four-bedroom residence in one of Camp Hill's most walkable pockets sold for $1.72 million, after five determined bidders contested possession of the home.

With stylish interiors, city glimpses and a flexible floor plan, 45 Brinawa Street struck a chord with family buyers looking for space, sophistication and location. Despite patchy weather, a crowd of 30 turned out to watch the action unfold on the day.

Bidding kicked off at $1.5 million and rose in steady $10,000 and $20,000 increments. One enthusiastic bidder lost confidence early, leaving four in the race. In the end, it was a fierce contest between two final contenders, with the hammer falling at $1.72 million.

Place Bulimba's Dion Tolley said the home's layout and finish appealed to families in particular. "Buyers saw real value in the functional floor plan, the multiple living zones and the connection to outdoor entertaining," he said.

Set between bushland walking tracks and the vibrant Camp Hill Marketplace, the home blends lifestyle with convenience. With its crisp finishes, breakout spaces and family-friendly design, this dual-level home delivered broad appeal and a strong result.

"Hurry up and sell it to me!" Bidders bring drama to Keane Street sale

In a fast-paced, emotionally charged auction that had the crowd leaning in, a weathered 1960s timber-frame home on a 953-square-metre triplex block sold for $980,000, nearly $100,000 above reserve, in front of teary-eyed grandchildren, an animated crowd and a phone line to the seller in Sydney.

Nine bidders circled the corner-block prize at 167 Keane Street, drawn by its rare development potential and old-school character. With a $900,000 reserve and bidding opening at $770,000, momentum built quickly before turning theatrical.

As one hesitant bidder paused, uncertain of his next move, another couldn't hold back. "Hurry up and sell it to me!" he shouted, drawing laughter from the crowd and cracking the tension wide open. The underbidder finally called it: "No more." And so the hammer fell at $980,000.

Jones Ballard agent Kim Findlay called it "hammer and tongs" from start to finish. "It was a bit of fun," he said, "the kind of auction that keeps people talking."

But behind the drama was a touching family milestone. The seller, a recent widow, heard the auction unfold from Sydney as her adult grandchildren stood quietly in the crowd. They were choked up as the home, filled with decades of memories, found new hands and a fresh future. Old bones, big dreams and a crowd ready to play. It was classic Cloverdale, sold with heart.