Under the hammer: Brisbane Airport’s biggest ever lost property auction

Brisbane Airport’s Lost Property Auction is back with a record number of valuable items, allowing the public to grab a bargain as well as own some unique pieces of aviation history.

500 lots are up for sale, with online bidding closing on Sunday, November 6.

Around 60,000 people per day pass through the Domestic and International terminals each day, with passengers leaving behind many weird, wonderful, and valuable items.

Read more: Up to 2,000 new jobs going at Brisbane Airport

While all efforts are made to return belongings owners, unfortunately approximately two-thirds of these items remain unclaimed after the standard holding period.

Items like neck pillows, blankets, and fresh food are not logged as lost property. They are kept at the Visitor Information Centre desk, and if not collected, are disposed of.

More valuable items are held at the airport for 60 days and, if still unclaimed, are either donated to local charities or held and offered to members of the public in Brisbane Airport’s annual Lost Property Auction.

This year, unclaimed items going under the hammer include:

• Laptops, Phones, Tablets, E-Readers & more
• 2 x Hoverboards
• 5 x Guitars
• 36 x Prams/Strollers
• 3 x Basketballs
• Coffee Machine
• A range of medical aids such as first aid kits, walking sticks, crutches, walking frame etc
• Fishing Rods
• Cricket Bats
• Hockey Sticks
• Variety of Handbags, Suitcases, Backpacks, Duffle bags etc
• Golf Clubs
• Cameras

“Bidders can expect to grab themselves some great bargains, there is something for everyone,” according to Lee Hames, chief operations officer for Lloyds Auctions.

“One stand-out lot is a IWC Schaffhausen Top Gun Pilot watch which retails between USD 10k and USD 30k. These watches are reported to be as good of an investment as Rolex watches and increase in value over time.”

Also up for grabs are some exclusive airport items that cannot be bought anywhere else. They include:

• A behind the scenes personal tour of Brisbane Airport
• 1 year of free parking at Brisbane Airport
• A valuable piece of Brisbane Airport history with a Movement Area Guidance Sign (MAGS) from Runway 01/19 (the legacy runway prior to being renamed) up for grabs plus another sign in a separate lot.

“Brisbane Airport’s online Lost Property Auction has always attracted wide attention from interested buyers, and the proceeds will continue to make an impact in the lives of children across Queensland,” commented Gert-Jan de Graaff, Brisbane Airport Corporation’s CEO.

For the fourth year running, all proceeds will be donated to The Courier-Mail Children’s Fund.

Last year’s auction raised AUSD 17,699.20 which was recently donated to Braille House. The funding will allow for the transcription and production of 25 new book titles for children who are blind or have low vision, including the hit series Bluey.

Items can be viewed and bids made via bne.com.au/auction or you can visit Lloyds Auctions on Thursday November 3 at 18 Paradise Road, Acacia Ridge to inspect in person.

Bidding will conclude on Sunday November 6 from 10am.