Items belonging to two well-known Australian celebrities are part of Philips Auctions timed online Fine & Decorative Arts and Modern & Antique Jewellery auctions finishing from 12pm Monday April 19 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

Although neither celebrity wishes to be named, the items themselves are an impressive part of both sales.

One, lot 364 in decorative arts, is a mahogany Bechstein grand piano with a $5000-$10,000 catalogue estimate and a current bid of $5300 and would be perfect for any aspiring concert pianist.

As the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) prepares to move from its old East Melbourne two-storey mansion premises to new digs at 1 Bowen Crescent, South Melbourne – originally built as offices for Linfox by trucking magnate Lindsay Fox – Melbourne auction house Christian McCann Auctions is gearing up to sell many historic items from the Albert Street site.

Melbourne’s inclement weather did not keep enthusiastic potential buyers from a Sunday March 21 viewing of paintings at Menzies forthcoming art auction – to begin at 6.30pm Wednesday March 31 at the company’s Sydney-based Menzies Gallery at 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington.

Given the 12-month tussle Australia, like all other countries, has had with COVID-19, there was a sense of optimism that perhaps the worst of the pandemic was behind the industry – and that regular viewings and live auctions could once more become the norm.   

The entire contents of the prestigious property at 60 St Vincent Place North, Albert Park will be up for grabs when auctioneer Christian McCann climbs the podium on site at 12 pm Sunday March 21.

Among the more appealing items are paintings by Australian artists including Haughton Forrest, Howard Arkley, David Boyd, Pro Hart, Taylor Ghee, Hans Heysen, John Kelly, Robert Dickerson, Ethel Carrick Fox, Janet Cumbrae Stewart, Hugh Sawrey, Ray Crooke, John Olsen and Fred Williams.