It’s almost 2400 kilometres from Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital to the Hermannsburg Mission west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory – but for Melbourne orthopaedic surgeon and collector the late John Hart (1937-2014) it was only a hop, step and a jump.

A renowned nature lover, bibliophile, fine wine connoisseur and enthusiastic art and map collector, John headed up the hospital’s orthopaedic unit from 1980 to 2003.

Auction goers will be treated to a plethora of Australian and international art choices on Sunday October 16 in Melbourne when Gibson’s Auctions adds its selection of more than 260 paintings to other art auctions on the day.

Gibson’s Auctions will hold its sale from 12pm at 885-889 High Street, Armadale and from lot 1 – well-known Melbourne bohemian artist and restaurant owner the late Mirka Mora’s (1928-2018) The Sisters 1963 – collectors and first time buyers should be absorbed.

Australian photographer the late Joyce Evans (1929-2019) not only was revered internationally as the “doyenne of Australian photography” – she also was an art historian, gallery director, curator, collector and lecturer.

Awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia just before her death for her service to the photographic arts, Joyce had an enviable collection of photographs by other leading Australian shutter bugs that will be auctioned as a timed online sale closing from 7pm Tuesday October 11 by Deutscher and Hackett at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

Melbourne-based Philips Auctions timed online sale – due to finish from 12pm Monday September 19 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern – has a litany of interesting lots to entice auction goers.

First up are the items from Gordon Cope-Williams Cope Williams Winery at Romsey in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges which the trustees now wish to sell.

Cope-Williams took Sydney socialite Lady Storey as his second wife after her husband died and together they built a considerable collection of art and antique furniture.