The Milton and Alma Roxanas collection of Aboriginal art – that he began collecting in the 1980s after being introduced to Hogarth Galleries director and scholar Clive Evatt in Sydney – will be auctioned by Bonhams from 4pm on Sunday May 11 Byron Kennedy Hall in Moore Park.

Bonhams Aboriginal art specialists are confident the Roxanas collection will attract plenty of interest as it includes paintings by artists whose prices went through the roof when the auction house sold Clive Evatt’s comprehensive collection in November last year.

Horses have long been one of Greg Mance’s great loves and, as part of the Windsor Smith shoe empire, he was able to indulge his passion through Carngham Station – a 2400-hectare horse training stud outside Ballarat.

Greg’s father Clarrie established Windsor Smith in 1946, the year his son was born. His father also loved to train trotters, which is probably how Greg inherited his love of racehorses.

One of Australia’s most respected fine art consultants and curators John Buckley is selling much of his impressive collection of modern and contemporary Australian art by some of the country’s leading artists.

The auction from 6.30pm on Tuesday at Mossgreen 926-930 High Street, Armadale is a great opportunity for art lovers to pick up quality works collected over many years by a professional art curator, according to Mossgreen managing director Paul Sumner.

A plethora of silver plate items, Moorcroft vases, jewellery and an ivory banana are among attractions at Young’s Auctions latest sale from 9.30am Friday May 9 at 229 Camberwell Road, East Hawthorn.

The auction also contains, antique, retro and modern furniture including a dining table that can seat eight people.

A full size billiard table and accessories from T. Sowerby & Sons of Liverpool in the United Kingdom will be an auction highlight for E.J. Ainger’s weekly sale from 9.30am on Tuesday May 6 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

The table is part of a household of contemporary furniture and will complement the Georgian, Victorian, retro and 1920s furniture items up for auction.

Well-known Melbourne interior designer Stuart Rattle was found dead on December 9 last year when fire engulfed his South Yarra apartment.

Within days, his long-time partner Michael O’Neill was arrested for his murder and remanded in custody until a committal mention hearing later this month.

Mr Rattle owned Musk Farm near Daylesford, a property he bought in 1998 and was recognised for the landscaping he carried out.

The farm is now for sale and Mossgreen has been asked to auction the contents from noon on Sunday June 1.

A comprehensive collection of die cast and tin plate toys will be auctioned from noon Thursday May 1 at Leonard Joel 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

The collection includes highly collectible German Marklin trains and a rare Matchbox Leyland four-tonne van.

Other highlights include Gerry Gee and Geraldine Gee ventriloquist dolls.

Never one to pass up a business opportunity, at age 60 the late Nancy Leeson decided to turn the family property, known as “The Poplars” in Bolwarra, into a successful tourism venture.

Born in 1911, she left Portland aged nine only to return in 1953 when her father retired and bought The Poplars that her uncle Charles Keiller and his family had lived in several years earlier.

Working the property as an orchardist, Nancy helped care for her disabled sister and ailing mother.

William Beckwith (W.B.) McInnes is recognised as one of Australia’s greatest portrait painters and during his lifetime won the Archibald Prize seven times.

Born in 1889, McInnes studied at the National Gallery of Victoria under Frederick McCubbin and won his first Archibald Prize in 1921.

Diamond rings, Rolex watches and antique Victorian brooches will be among the highlights of Young’s Auctions latest sale from 9.30pm Friday May 2 at 229 Camberwell Road, East Hawthorn.

The Rolex watches – one a man’s gold and stainless steel version and the other a lady’s nine carat gold case example – join the Chinese ivory carvings on offer as popular auction items.

There is a collection of silver one and two ounce coins and consecutively numbered $1, $2 and $5 notes to whet collector appetites.