Brett Whiteley (1939-1992), whose relatively early death deprived the Australian art industry of one its most iconic figures, continues to excite secondary art market buyers each time one of his paintings is offered for auction.

The Wren, 1978 is yet another leading example of his uncanny ability to capture the Australian landscape in all its glory – this time shimmering summer heat that covers rolling hills and valleys near his New South Wales home town of Bathurst.

With no million-dollar estimate paintings at its March 27 Melbourne auction, Menzies is relying on the pulling power of iconic Australian artists Charles Blackman (1928-2018) and Brett Whiteley (1939-1992) to bring buyers through the doors of its recently renovated 1 Darling Street, South Yarra premises for a 6.30pm start.

Blackman’s Day Dream 1958 (lot 33) carries the auction’s highest catalogue estimate of $200,000-$250,000.

It has taken just over 18 months and three sales but Melbourne-based Leski Auctions is finally wrapping up the auctioning of the last cameras left from the windup of Melbourne’s iconic Michael family camera museum.

Part Three – and the final sale – will be held from 10am Tuesday March 26 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale, bringing to a close more than a century of the Michael’s family business involvement with the Victorian capital.

If it hadn’t been for Eloi and Winifred (Wini) van Paridon, Australians might never have discovered the elegance and beauty of Belgian antiques.

Pioneers of the Australian antique trade, the husband and wife team were instrumental in introducing local collectors to the wonders of European creations through their Sassafras-based business Van Paridon Antiques in the hills of Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges.