Holocaust survivors are undoubtedly tough – and to show just how resilient, Polish Jew Martin Sachs lived to the ripe old age of 95 after becoming one of only 500 survivors from the horrors of the World War II German Mauthausen Labour Camp.

Only 20 when he was liberated in May 1945 by United States forces after losing both his father and mother in Belzec and Stutthof concentration camps during the war, Martin migrated in 1948 to Australia where he became a successful builder and developer.

Several Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013) paintings feature among works by Australia’s top artists in what are undoubted drawcards for Menzies forthcoming art auction from 6.30pm Wednesday March 29 at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra.

The highest estimate work is Bus by the Tiber 1977-78 (lot 18), an oil on canvas that first appeared in 1980 in Rudy Komon Art Gallery in Sydney and carries a $600,000-$700,000 catalogue estimate.

An unusual painting by Charles Blackman (lot 34) of one of his favourite subjects, Alice in Wonderland – entitled Face and Illusion – Alice 1966 – will be front and centre when Melbourne auctioneer Phil Caldwell begins his online two-part auction from 11am Sunday March 19 at 36A Hartnett Drive, Seaford.

“This is unusual because it is one of his early paintings of Alice – dating from 1966,” Phil explained.

The first part of the sale is devoted to important Australian investment art – assembled from long held collections and estates.

Golfing champions couldn’t be further from mind when considering religious icons and artefacts coming up for auction – but in the case of Melbourne-based Leski Auctions two-day decorative arts and collectables sale from 10am Saturday and Sunday February 18 and 19, the two are inextricably linked.