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.

Ever the optimist, head of Aboriginal art at Deutscher and Hackett Crispin Gutteridge is confident the auction house’s forthcoming major sale of Important Australian Indigenous Art – from 7pm Tuesday March 26 in its Melbourne office at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra – will at least be as successful as those of the previous two years.

“Both of those sold over the high-end estimate of $3 million,” he said. “This one’s top estimate is $2.5 million and we hope to achieve that again.”

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.