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Why a one-cent stamp is set to sell for millions

<p>An extremely rare stamp that was once bought for a measly one cent is set to sell for millions of dollars, breaking records at a US auction house. </p> <p>While to the untrained eye, the blue stamp seems like any old stamp, the 1868 one-cent Z-grill is actually the rarest stamp in America due to its unique history and rarity. </p> <p>On June 14th, the one-cent Z-grill will be put up for sale by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, marking the first time the rare stamp has been on auction since 1998. </p> <p>Experts from the New York auction house say it could fetch $6 million to $7.5 million (AUD), which would make it the single most expensive US stamp ever sold.</p> <p>The reason for the extraordinary price comes down to the fact that out of the two known Z-grill stamp copies, the one up for auction is the only copy available for private purchase by collectors, while other historic copy is held at the New York Public Library.</p> <p>The Z-grill is unique due to its signature embossed paper, which was introduced to the US postal service after the Civil War to prevent stamps from being reused. </p> <p>Since 2005, the coveted stamp has belonged to billionaire investor and “bond king” Bill Gross.</p> <p>“It’s considered the trophy of collecting United States stamps,” said Charles Shreve, who has managed and built Gross’ extensive stamp collection for years and serves as director of international auctions at Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries.</p> <p>“There’s only one. If you want to brag, that’s the stamp.”</p> <p>Mr Gross' entire collection is estimated to be worth $22.6 million to $30 million AUD. The top 100 stamps from the collection will be auctioned off on June 14th, while the remaining stamps will be sold on June 15th.</p> <p>“There’s multiple stamps that’ll bring $500,000 or $750,000 (USD) but the (one-cent) Z-grill is the star of the show,” Shreve said.</p> <p>“I just know some people who are lusting for it, and we want to try to get as many people interested in it as possible.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Australia’s most expensive number plate breaks record

<p dir="ltr">Australia’s most rare licence plate has broken records in the days before it is set to be auctioned off, with the single-digit number plate expected to sell for over $10 million. </p> <p dir="ltr">Heritage number plates are in high demand amongst collectors, with the first plates coming out of each state only branded with a single number. </p> <p dir="ltr">The first ever NSW heritage plate, which was first made for the state's first police commissioner, is being auctioned off for the first time in over a century, with the plate simply reading “1” attracting nation-wide attention. </p> <p dir="ltr">The plate was last year <a href="https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?smode=0&amp;aid=47033&amp;lid=4617672&amp;_ga=2.27604924.1274045232.1705885942-1957527670.1705885942">listed</a> on Lloyds Auctions, where bidding soared to over $10 million within the first 72 hours on the site. </p> <p dir="ltr">Lloyds described the plates as “the holy grail must-have for any blue-chip passion investor or the no. 1 gift for that person who has ‘everything’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Lloyds Auctions chief operations officer Lee Hames called the plate a “unicorn” and said the public auction listing was “truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Generally, rare heritage plates such as these are usually passed down through generations within families,” Hames said.</p> <p dir="ltr">After being made for the police commissioner in 1910, the number 1 plate was then handed over to Sir Fredrick Stewart, the founding chairman of Australian National Airways, who held onto the plates until his death. </p> <p dir="ltr">The extraordinary value comes from the rarity of the plates, with only nine single digit number plates available in each state and territory.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These are as rare as hens’ teeth and the perfect addition to any rare classic or prestige vehicle,” Mr Hames continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In fact, you could potentially say that the number plate will be most likely worth MORE than the car you put it on.”</p> <p dir="ltr">At its current bidding levels, NSW 1 will be the most expensive number plate ever to sell in Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 18pt;"><em>Image credits: Lloyds Auctions</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-345c72a0-7fff-c7dd-0126-edd3a30b52a7"></span></p>

Money & Banking

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Tiny ancient Christmas tree sells for thousands

<p>One of the world's first mass-produced Christmas trees has sold at auction for a whopping 56 times higher than its original purchase price. </p> <p>The tree was first bought in 1920 for just six pence, and was snapped up at the auction in England by an anonymous buyer for £3,400, or $6,433 AUD. </p> <p>The tree was described by the auctioneer as “the humblest Christmas tree in the world”, measuring just 79cm in height, boasting 25 branches, 12 berries and six mini candle holders.</p> <p>The tree sits in a small, red-painted wooden base with a simple decorative emblem.</p> <p>The Christmas tree was first bought by the family of eight-year-old Dorothy Grant in 1920, with Dorothy using it as her tree until she passed away at the age of 101. </p> <p>The tree is believed to have been bought from Woolworths, with Grant decorating the tree as a child with cotton wool to mimic snow, given that baubles were considered a luxury at the time.</p> <p>After Grant's passing in 2014, the charming tree was passed down to her daughter Shirley Hall, who was "parting with the tree now to honour her mother's memory and to ensure it survives as a humble reminder of 1920s life". </p> <p>It was expected to sell for between £60 and £80 (between $110 and $150 AUD) but was bought for the astonishing price of £3,411 when it went under the hammer at Hansons auctioneers on Friday.</p> <p>Charles Hanson, the owner of Hansons and a regular guest on the BBC’s <em>Bargain Hunt</em> said, “This is one of the earliest Christmas trees of its type we have seen. The humblest Christmas tree in the world has a new home and we’re delighted for both buyer and seller … I think it’s down to the power of nostalgia. Dorothy’s story resonated with people.”</p> <p>He added, “As simple as it was, Dorothy loved that tree. It became a staple part of family celebrations for decades. The fact that it brought such joy to Dorothy is humbling in itself. It reminds us that extravagance and excess are not required to capture the spirit of Christmas. For Dorothy it was enough to have a tree."</p> <p>“Some of the first artificial Christmas trees utilised machinery which had been designed to manufacture toilet brushes. The waste-not, want-not generations of old are still teaching us an important lesson about valuing the simple things and not replacing objects just for the sake of it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Hansons Auctioneers</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Eye-watering price tag for "remarkable" first class Titanic menu

<p>A first class dinner menu from the Titanic has been found and sold at an auction in England for £84,000 (around $162,000 AUD) on November 11. </p> <p>The water-stained menu was dated April 11, 1912 just three days before the ship hit an iceberg, ultimately meeting it's ill-fated end causing over 1500 deaths. </p> <p>Wealthy passengers at the time were spoiled with choice, with oysters, salmon, beef, squab (baby pigeon), spring lamb among other dishes on the menu, and that's not including dessert. </p> <p>Auctioneers Henry Aldridge &amp; Son said it was unclear how the menu made it off the ship intact, but the slight water damage suggests that it was recovered from the body of a victim. </p> <p>The rare artefact, which is over 111 years old belonged to amateur historian Len Stephenson, from Nova Scotia, Canada, who passed away in 2017. </p> <p>No one knew he had it, including his family, who only discovered it after going through his belongings following his death. </p> <p>“About six months ago his daughter and his son-in-law, Allen, felt the time was right to go through his belongings,” auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said. </p> <p>“As they did they found this menu in an old photo album.</p> <p>“Len was a very well thought-of historian in Nova Scotia which has strong connections with the Titanic. The body recovery ships were from Nova Scotia and so all the victims were taken back there.</p> <p>“Sadly, Len has taken the secret of how he acquired this menu to the grave with him.”</p> <p>Stephenson worked at a post office and would talk to people, collect old pictures and write letters for them, which might be how he got the rare artefact. </p> <p>According to the auctioneer, no other first class dinner menus dated April 11, 1912 have been recovered from the titanic making this “a remarkable survivor from the most famous Ocean liner of all time”.</p> <p>“There are a handful of April 14 menus in existence but you just don’t see menus from April 11. Most of them would have gone down with the ship,” Aldridge said. </p> <p>“Whereas with April 14 menus, passengers would have still had them in their coat and jacket pockets from earlier on that fateful night and still had them when they were taken off the ship," he added. </p> <p>A few other items recovered from the Titanic were also sold, including a Swiss-made pocket watch recovered from passenger Sinai Kantor which fetched £97,000 (around $187,000 AUD). </p> <p>A tartan-patterned deck blanket, which was likely used during the rescue operation also sold for £96,000 (around $185,000). </p> <p><em>Images: Henry Aldridge &amp; Son of Devizes, Wiltshire</em></p> <p> </p>

Cruising

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Little girl's Anzac artwork sells at auction for $100,000

<p>A moving artwork created by nine-year-old Evie Poolman has sold for a staggering six-figure sum at auction. </p> <p>Young Evie created the artwork of the 'Lone Soldier' just six months after receiving a devastating diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a deadly type of brain tumour.</p> <p>Evie underwent four brain surgeries and 30 rounds of radiation for her condition but tragically died at the age of nine in June 2021.</p> <p>Now, the artwork - a striking red and orange piece depicting an Anzac standing before a grave at sunset - has been auctioned off by Evie's parents in an attempt to raise money for a cure for the horrible disease. </p> <p>Currently, DIPG has a zero per cent survival rate but despite this, since 2015, less than a million dollars has been dedicated to research in Australia.</p> <p>Evie's parents Chuck and Bridget chose to auction off their late daughter's artwork at the Heels 2 Heal charity lunch in Sydney on Friday, to increase the funding of research into DIPG. </p> <p>The lucky winner, Jo Kinghorn, forked out a staggering $100,000 for the artwork, as she handed over the money "with absolute joy and pleasure".</p> <p>"It was so exciting for me, I've never really experienced anything like that before," Kinghorn, a friend of the Poolman family, told 2GB's Ben Fordham, adding that she hadn't woken up that day expecting to part with so much money.</p> <p>"I'm just so grateful that the painting ended up in my hands."</p> <p>Kinghorn was more than happy to contribute so much money, knowing the funds were going to a good cause. </p> <p>"It's a drop in the ocean as to what is needed, and the government has the ability to properly fund these trials," Kinghorn said of the money spent.</p> <p>"I saw first-hand what this did to a family, and the strength of this family is beyond words. I cannot be more proud. It's just devastating."</p> <p><em>Image credits: 2GB</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Princess Di's black sheep jumper sells for 14 times over asking price

<p>Princess Diana's famous "black sheep" jumper has sold at auction for more than $1.1million.   </p> <p>The iconic red and white (and one tiny bit of black, of course!) jumper fetched precisely $1,143,000 at Sotheby's in New York - making it the most expensive piece of clothing owned by the former Princess of Wales to sell at auction, as well as the most expensive jumper to ever be sold at auction. </p> <p>There were a total of 44 bids within the final 15 minutes of a two-week online bidding process for the famous item of clothing - during which the bidding leapt from $190,000 to $1,143,000, which ultimately pushed the sale to a staggering 14 times over the initial asking price of $80,000.  </p> <p>The woollen jumper was worn by Lady Di to a polo match in Windsor in June 1981, just one month before she married the then-Prince Charles. </p> <p>Soon after Diana wore the garment, it was returned to Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, founders of the label Warm & Wonderful because of a tear at the cuff.</p> <p>It was sent back to the designers along with a note from Buckingham Palace, requesting that the jumper be either repaired or replaced.</p> <p>A new jumper was knitted for Diana, with Osborne believing the original garment had been lost after the replacement was sent to the Princess of Wales, which she wore to another polo match in 1983. </p> <p>However, Osborne later discovered the jumper, which had been preserved underneath an old cotton bedspread, while searching her attic looking for an old pattern. </p> <p>She got in touch with Sotheby's auction house which gave the garment an auction estimate of around $80,000 - $120,000.</p> <p>Speaking to <em>The Telegraph UK</em>, Osborne said, "We didn't think we had any of the original sheep jumpers, because at the time, we were so desperate to complete orders that we never owned one ourselves, so I couldn't believe I'd found the original Diana sheep jumper."</p> <p>"It took a while to sink in. And we're so lucky it's not fallen to pieces."</p> <p>Sotheby's said of the now-iconic design, "The Black Sheep sweater is one of the most iconic pieces worn by Princess Diana to ever come to market."</p> <p>"The cultural impact of this moment from the 1980s is exemplified by the head of Rowing Blazers, Jack Carlson, who in 2020, requested to partner with the original designers and license the sheep design to be reproduced for his own fashion line."</p> <p>"Since stumbling upon the sweater ... we have been reliving the fond memories of Princess Diana appearing on the front pages of every newspaper in 1981, wearing our very own sweater.  </p> <p>"While we are forever indebted to her for the impact this had on our business, our deepest appreciation lies in the knowledge that she shared a unique connection to the black sheep design. We are thrilled that this cherished sweater has now found a new home, carrying with it the enduring legacy of Princess Diana."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Princess Diana's dresses fetch an eye-watering sum at auction

<p>Three dresses worn by Princess Diana have sold for $2.5 million (AUD) at an auction in Beverly Hills, California. </p> <p>The gowns were sold in a <em>Legends: Hollywood And Royalty</em> sale, by Julien's Auctions and featured over 1,400 items to celebrate 100 years of Warner Bros. </p> <p>All three dresses sold for six-figures, with one selling for almost triple it's estimated price. </p> <p>Martin Nolan, the executive director, said the record-breaking sale of Diana's dresses "exceeded all expectations".</p> <p>Princess Diana's black and jade gown was the most expensive item, selling for $895,580. </p> <p>The dress was made by Catherine Walker - her personal designer for over 16 years - which she wore to a gala event in Toronto, Canada, in October 1991. </p> <p>The second most expensive dress sold was a red silk dress made by Bruce Oldfield, which she wore to the premiere of<em> Hot Shots</em> at the Odeon Leicester Square the following month. </p> <p>The Oldfield dress fetched a stunning $895,547 - which was almost triple it's estimated  $312,000 price tag.</p> <p>The final dress was a custom-made black velvet and ivory gown Diana wore to a private function, which was also designed by Walker, and fetched $796,070. </p> <p>The original price of the velvet and ivory gown was estimated to be around $93,000 - $125,000. </p> <p>The three dresses have not been seen in public for over 30 years, according to the auction house.</p> <p>They were originally bought by American businesswoman Ellen Petho, who bought five of Princess Diana's dresses for $234,000 at an auction in New York. </p> <p>Petho, who passed away in January aged 82, ended up only keeping three of the dresses, which her husband has now sold to help raise money for a scholarship fund for mature art and design students in memory of his wife.</p> <p>Petho's daughter Karrie, told the <em>Mail</em>:  "Our mother read the inscription inside [the auction catalogue] about Prince William telling his mother that the dresses should not sit in her closet, that they should be out in the world and doing good. I think that's what inspired her."</p> <p><em>Image: Brian Lawless/PA Images via Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Princess Diana's iconic jumper to be sold at auction

<p>The iconic black sheep jumper worn by the late Princess Diana is going to auction. </p> <p>The woollen jumper was worn by Lady Di to a polo match in Windsor in June 1981, just one month before she married Prince Charles. </p> <p>Soon after Diana wore the garment to the polo match, it was returned to Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, founders of the label Warm &amp; Wonderful because of a tear at the cuff.</p> <p>It was sent back to the designers along with a note from Buckingham Palace, requesting that the jumper be either repaired or replaced.</p> <p>A new jumper was knitted for Diana, with Joanna Osborne believing the original garment has been lost after the replacement was sent to the Princess of Wales, which she wore to another polo match in 1983. </p> <p>However, earlier this year Osborne discovered the jumper, which has been preserved underneath an old cotton bedspread, while searching her attic looking for an old pattern. </p> <p>She got in touch with Sotheby's auction house which has since given the garment an auction estimate of £50,000-£70,000 (approx. $95,000 - $133,000 AUD).</p> <p>It will be auctioned online between August 31st and September 14th.</p> <p>Speaking to <em><a title="The Telegraph" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/royals/you-can-now-buy-princess-dianas-original-sheep-jumper/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Telegraph</a> UK</em>, Osborne said, "We didn't think we had any of the original sheep jumpers, because at the time, we were so desperate to complete orders that we never owned one ourselves, so I couldn't believe I'd found the original Diana sheep jumper."</p> <p>"It took a while to sink in. And we're so lucky it's not fallen to pieces."</p> <p>Sotheby's said of the now-iconic design, "The Black Sheep sweater is one of the most iconic pieces worn by Princess Diana to ever come to market."</p> <p>"The cultural impact of this moment from the 1980s is exemplified by the head of Rowing Blazers, Jack Carlson, who in 2020, requested to partner with the original designers and license the sheep design to be reproduced for his own fashion line."</p> <p>"The business partners reported an outstanding response from consumers, emphasizing the immortality of Diana's taste and her influence on popular culture."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Weekend Sunrise host’s pup-tailored property hits the market

<p>Channel 7 Weekend <em>Sunrise</em> host Matt Doran has put his apartment on the market, in the exclusive eastern Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill.</p> <p>Doran plans to take advantage of the recovery in the cramped winter property market as he failed to sell the two-bedroom apartment in mid-2021.</p> <p>It has a June 24 auction guide of $1.8 million through BresicWhitney agents Maclay Longhurst and Zakir Abdallaoui.</p> <p>After securing the Tresscourt apartment from <em>Sky News</em> presenter Laura Jayes and her husband, former Seven reporter Alex Hart, for $1.385 million in 2017, Doran commissioned a complete remodel by Sydney designer Dylan Farrell.</p> <p>Doran began his “absolute passion project” with art tailored to the home by artist Vicki Lee.</p> <p>“It’s honestly going to be tough to part with this place,” Doran told The Sell.</p> <p>Doran and his wife, Weekend Today executive producer Kendall Bora are yet to purchase.</p> <p>“I bought it before I met Kendall after I moved back from LA. “The redesign was a big job; the lights and doors and windows custom-made … the centrepiece is a sliding steel door to the loungeroom, which needed 12 people to carry up and install.</p> <p>“We also extended the outdoor space, almost entirely to satisfy the demands of the galaxy’s most spoilt and demanding and glorious Italian greyhound, Murphy.”</p> <p>Per PopTrack, the median unit price in Bellevue Hill is $1.357,500, dipping 9.5 per cent over the past year.</p> <p>It is believed that Murphy will have the final say in their next acquisition.</p> <p>Doran and Bora will hold onto the Sunny Corner Cottage, a retreat accessed by boat and Berowra Waters and where they tied the knot in July 2021.</p> <p>The pair paid $1.75 million in 2021 for the 1905 waterfront property and had designer Tasmin Johnson work on its redesign into a luxury private holiday rental and event space.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram / Realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

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Final Block home sale price revealed

<p>The sale price for the last property from <em>The Block</em> 2022 has finally been revealed, about six months after the show’s auctions took place.</p> <p>Queensland couple Dylan and Jenny remain the only team not to have sold their house after it was passed in at auction having failed to attract a bid over its $4.08 million reserve.</p> <p>The house sold privately in February, however, no sale price was publicly revealed.</p> <p>According to <em>The Age</em>, the final sale price was $3.9 million - $180,000 less than the auction day reserve.</p> <p>That is also $175,000 less than the highest offer made for the house on auction day, of $4,075,000. That offer was passed up, with the home among several knocked back during a dramatic finale for the show’s 2022 season.</p> <p>In February, the 5ha Gisborne property had finally led under a private treaty to a “lovely family” who were new to the area and reportedly “fell in love" with the house.</p> <p>The sale price sees Dylan and Jenny at the very bottom of the leaderboard in terms of the most recent season of <em>The Block</em>, with a net profit of zero. It also puts them alongside a handful of teams in the show’s history to have walked away from their brutal few months of filming without any prize money.</p> <p>Speaking to <em>9 Entertainment</em> shortly after auction day, Jenny revealed she was “p*ssed off” with their property failing to meet its reserve.</p> <p>“I know [the houses] are worth $6 million, but people don’t have that kind of money at the moment,’’ she said.</p> <p>Last year’s season of <em>The Block</em> holds the spot for the most varied results in the show’s history. Winners Omar and Oz broke all Block records, with an astounding total profit of 1,686,666.66 for their house, while Tom and Sarah-Jane were only able to sell their house for just $20,000 over its reserve.</p> <p>Couples Rachel and Ryan, and Ankur and Sharon both made around $170,000 respectively, with Dylan and Jenny’s house left on the market into the next year.</p> <p>The show is set to head back to Melbourne’s exclusive bayside suburbs for season 19, currently filming in Hampton East.</p> <p>A popular contestant from last year, plumber Tom, has been spotted on site, with photos suggesting he’ll be working on the show as a tradie in 2023.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram/Domain</em></p>

Real Estate

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John Travolta’s iconic suit snatches a sweaty sum at auction

<p>John Travolta’s sweat stains have hit the market, snagging a staggering sum, alongside the iconic <em>Saturday Night Fever</em> white three-piece suit.</p> <p>The look rose to international fame when Travolta - as Tony Manero - took to the dancefloor in the 1977 classic, joining Stephanie Mangano for an intense disco dance competition. </p> <p>But it was the film’s promotional imagery that truly immortalised the suit - despite popular, yet incorrect, belief that Travolta had flaunted it during his solo ‘Night Fever’ dance. In posters - as well as on VCR, DVD, and CD covers - Travolta can be seen with his right arm in the air, on a dancefloor, white polyester front and centre. </p> <p>As Costume designer Patrizia von Brandenstein explained to the <em>New York Post</em>, they were looking for “a white, three-piece suit: dressy, inexpensive and polyester. There was a producer who thought a black suit would be more elegant. But heroes wear white; it’s as simple as that. </p> <p>“The pastel suits were nice and pretty, but John’s character is very much a hero. Plus, it needed to be something that a boy who works in a paint store would be able to afford. I think the suit sold for $150 or $200.”</p> <p>Initially purchased off the rack in Brooklyn for $100, the jacket - with matching waistcoat, flared trousers, black shirt, and Travolta’s 45-year-old sweat stains - was expected to fetch up to $250,000 USD (~$374,000 AUD) when it went under the hammer at Los Angeles’ Julien’s Auctions.</p> <p>Despite its distinct lack of a thorough cleaning, the suit did find a new home, with a buyer dishing out a total of approximately $388,692 AUD to call it their own.</p> <p>As a spokesperson for the auction house explained, “This suit is considered to be one of the most iconic costumes in cinema history. It is one of only two known to exist that was used during production. It has never been exhibited or sold at auction before.</p> <p>“It has become emblematic of not only the film but of the whole disco era.”</p> <p>The suit in question was actually one of a few purchased by the film’s costume designer - two were used on set, rotated in and out while the other dried, and another was used for promotional material - and was given to Julien’s Auctions by an anonymous collector who had received it from <em>Saturday Night Fever</em>’s director, John Badham in 1991. </p> <p>As for why the iconic outfit was being sold in its unique condition, the executive director of Julien’s Auctions had a simple explanation. </p> <p>“The sweat is how you know it’s authentic,” Martin J Nolan told <em>The Guardian</em>.</p> <p>“It was incredibly hot during filming, so you can still see the sweat marks around his waist. We never wash memorabilia. People want the stains, the DNA, particularly when a suit like this one hasn’t been auctioned before.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Movies

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Neglected pre-war car up for sale after miracle restoration

<p>A 1939 MG VA, initially purchased as a stripped bare shell of itself, is heading for auction.</p> <p>When the pre-war vehicle sold for only a few hundred dollars, it wasn’t asking for much - most likely because it wasn’t offering a whole lot either. Missing entire doors and rusting in more than one place, the car left a lot to be desired. </p> <p>Its original owner had tucked it away in the garage after the MG failed an MOT in 1969 - an annual test in the United Kingdom to verify a vehicle’s safety. Although they’d intended to restore it, those plans never came to fruition, with the car learning a hard lesson in dust bunnies instead. </p> <p>45 years later, it finally got the chance to see the light of day again, with its next owner snatching it up from a family friend at a ‘bargain’ price. And to everyone’s delight, the vehicle finally got the makeover it had been waiting almost half a century for. </p> <p>The owner - who has requested anonymity - even performed the bulk of the work by themself, although they left the engine overhaul and respray to the professionals.</p> <p>The hard work produced some spectacular results, and with the car now rolling into auction with an asking price of ~$18,500-$22,2000, its next owner is sure to enjoy all that it has to offer. </p> <p>When the line of MG VAs left production, they sold for up to $650 (or roughly $35,000 in 2023), and only 2,400 of them were ever made. </p> <p>The vehicles were produced alongside the larger SA and WA models, with their smallest-in-the-range 108-inch wheelbases distinguishing them from their counterparts. The VA model was only produced for two years, before the Second World War saw production come to a screeching halt. </p> <p>The MG company itself had been founded in the 1920s, and was renowned for its range of two-seater sports cars. After years of ownership changes, and after it was absorbed into the British Leyland group, the firm - which at that point was known as MG Rover - faced financial difficulty in the early 200s, and by 2005 was forced into receivership. </p> <p>However, the group was then purchased by Nanjing Automobile Group, and resumed its production of vehicles in 2007. In 2011, the MG6 appeared in the market, establishing itself as the first UK model in 16 years.</p> <p>And as for the 1939 VA model heading to auction with Charterhouse, Richard Bromell - who is handling the sale - had one just one thing to note, “to say the MG was bought as a project makes it sound much better than it was as it was in a very sorry state indeed</p> <p>“Thankfully the owner was more than handy with a spanner and undertook a complete restoration of the MG.”</p> <p><em>Images: Charterhouse Auctioneers & Valuers </em></p>

Money & Banking

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Where you can snap up a home for just $30,000

<p>More than a dozen homes in the mining town of Coober Pedy are being auctioned off for as little as $30,000 for an unusual reason. </p> <p>The properties in the regional South Australian town are being sold in an attempt to recoup unpaid council rates. </p> <p>Andrews Property director Warren Andrews said 16 properties are up for sale, due to years of outstanding rates payments. </p> <p>They ranged from residential blocks, commercial premises and incomplete underground dwellings or “dugouts” that needed plumbing or electricity fitted, he said.</p> <p>Andrews went on to say that some properties were in good condition, while others needed major refurbishments. </p> <p>Their prices started from about $5000 for an 800sqm residential block, to $800,000 for an entire office building.</p> <p>Andrews said the prices were great value for money, as prices that low wouldn’t be commonly seen outside the regional town.</p> <p>The price of a three-bedroom home varied between $30,000 to $550,000, he said.</p> <p>“I’m expecting a lot of buyers to be external. Coober Pedy attracts a lot of interest from NSW and Victoria. It’s very cheap real estate,” he said.</p> <p>The town of Coober Pedy is located in the centre of South Australia, nine hours from the capital of Adelaide and boasts a population of only 1,500. </p> <p>It is known as the “opal capital of the world” for its opal mining.</p> <p>Coober Pedy real estates and the district council have long been auctioning off homes in the hopes of recouping outstanding rates payments, as in 2021, 33 properties went to auction for the exact same reason. </p> <p>Although the town of Coober Pedy is located deep in the outback, Andrews said people have already shown interest on the auctions, with many seeing it as a desirable place to live away from bustling city life, or a great place to purchase an investment property. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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Steve McQueen’s Ferrari heads to auction

<p>Steve McQueen’s Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is set for auction in California in late 2023, almost 10 years on from its previous sale at ~$14.9 m AUD (~$19.3 AUD in today’s economy). </p> <p>The vehicle, listed by RM Sotheby’s, found its first ever owner in the American actor, and was one of only 330 examples created between 196 and 1968 with bodywork by Scaglietti. </p> <p>And while McQueen had previously owned the car’s convertible version - the N.A.R.T Spider - an accident saw him purchase the coupe from Hollywood Sport Cars’ Chic Vandagriff. </p> <p>When McQueen received the car, it was actually coated in a Nacciola golden metallic paint, but was soon transformed into its iconic red self asking a request from McQueen to his mechanic, Lee Brown. Brown had also worked on the Ford Mustang from McQueen’s Bullitt, and with this job, created the colour known as ‘Chianti Red’. </p> <p>The paint job wasn’t the only custom work that the Ferrari saw, with parts from the N.A.R.T Spider transferred across - including its Borrani wire wheels and its bespoke wing mirror. </p> <p>None of it, however, was enough for the actor to keep the car, with McQueen selling it on to fellow screen star Guy Williams in 1971.</p> <p>From there until 2009, it encountered a number of new owners, before it arrived in the United Kingdom and crossed paths - as a silver vehicle - with retired Australian Formula One driver 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan. </p> <p>Schuppan had a vision in mind from the moment of the sale, intending to restore the Ferrari to how it had been in the hands of McQueen. It was a big task, and Schuppan had to call in help, even sending the car to Ferrari for restorations. </p> <p>In the hands of the company and its in-house restoration program, the car underwent another painting session - first to its original Nocciola, before it was sprayed back to its Chianti Red roots with a little help from a swatch from Lee Brown.</p> <p>Back in prime condition, the Ferrari made its way to Italy’s Museo Ferrari and then California’s Petersen Automotive Museum, before Schuppan made the decision to sell - also with RM Sotheby’s - in 2014.</p> <p>And while it sold then for a staggering ~$14.9m, an estimate is unavailable for the car’s - likely astronomical - 2023 selling price.</p> <p><em>Images: RM Sotheby’s </em></p>

Money & Banking

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AFL veteran backs $10 million dream home

<p>AFL legend Kevin Sheedy has backed a stunning resort-style property in Melbourne’s southeast.</p> <p>The owners of the breathtaking, resort-style property, Bill and Dianne Hartley built their “dream home” about 15 years ago through Mr Hartley’s commercial building company, and it has everything a family could ask for.</p> <p>The 24-26 Glen Moidart Drive home in Berwick is sure to wow potential buyers with a six-car garage, mod grass tennis court, 1.2 hectares of beautiful gardens and a large pool area modelled by a resort the pair visited in Port Douglas.</p> <p>“This was our dream home, we spent a lot on the tennis court, pool, gardens and interiors,” Mr Hartley said. “Quite easily we could have fit 20 families inside.”</p> <p>Obrien Real Estate Keysborough’s John Rombotis said potential buyers could bump into AFL veteran Kevin Sheedy, who knew the vendors and had become an ambassador for the home where he would attend some of the private inspections.</p> <p>“He’s helping out with the home, and with qualified buyers he’s been out on two occasions,” According to Mr Rombotis.</p> <p>An ex-footy player with Fitzroy, Port Adelaide and Richmond, Mr Rombotis said his mentor was the latest in a succession of footy icons to help vendors from some of Melbourne’s most elite addresses to connect with a new owner.</p> <p>Recently, champion for North Melbourne Wayne Carry was seen in videos and had attended the auction of 1301/188 Macaulay Rd, North Melbourne, with Mr Rombotis paying thanks to King's involvement in reference to the conclusion of the auction.</p> <p>The estate is decked out with a tiled foyer and a bronze statue water feature which sits behind a Jarrah hardwood and ironwork staircase.</p> <p>It also included a private external entrance, making it a perfect home for those working from home. The ground floor has multiple family living and dining rooms, and the main bedroom features a walk-in-robe, a separate dressing room, and two ensuites, one with a spa bath and a vanity table.</p> <p>The home also includes a large entertaining wing with a pool room, built-in barbecue, bar, gym and sauna, all looking out onto the beautiful, manicured gardens and pool area.</p> <p>The second floor is ideal for a teenage retreat, with four bedrooms, all accompanied by an ensuite and two with a shared balcony, a terrace, a rumpus room, and a home theatre room.</p> <p>The resort-style home also includes a cellar beneath the ground floor, while Mr Hartley has also built a two-bedroom cottage as a guest house above the garage. The separated cottage comes with a small kitchen, a dining area, a bathroom and a balcony.</p> <p>“That was going to be a carer’s cottage if we got too old,” Mr Hartley said.</p> <p>The couple have decided to renovate a smaller home in Sandhurst where they plan to live after the sale is concluded.</p> <p>“We’re on the north side of Berwick and on this side it’s more acreage type properties, you’ve got virtually no neighbours but you’re only two minutes away from town,” Mr Hartley continued.</p> <p>“It’s been a really good house, it’s a very sad thought to be leaving it but it’s too big for us now.”</p> <p>OBrien Keysborough corporate director Darren Hutchins mentioned that while the garage had space for six cars, there was likely enough room to fit up to 15 cars if the driveway leading up to it was taken into consideration.</p> <p>“They’ve spared no expense, the house quality wise is absolutely stunning,” Mr Hutchins said. “Ideally it’s a house that would suit a family, maybe even a couple of families … but you wouldn’t need to go on holidays as you’d have your own private resort.”</p> <p>The price guide for the 24-26 Glen Moidart property has an eyewatering price tag of $9.7m-$10.5m and is only available for inspection via private appointments.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

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Jackie O survives "hectic" auction by dropping $13.25m on new home

<p>Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has dropped an eyewatering $13.25 million on a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.</p> <p>The radio star recently made the purchase at an auction and was congratulated by her team when she was back on-air.</p> <p>“I don’t know if you liked it, but how good that the paps were filming you,” the show’s newsreader said, referring to pictures taken of Jackie O at the auction that were published in several media outlets.</p> <p>“Actually, you know what? That was kind of good, to have that moment. You would never film yourself at an auction,” Jackie O said, calling the auction “hectic.”</p> <p>The KIIS FM co-host, who recently sold her Woollahra mansion for $13 million, purchased a fixer-upper with breathtaking ocean views in Clovelly.</p> <p>Jackie, 48, was seen at the auction with her daughter Kitty, according to The Daily Telegraph. She came out on top in a relentless bidding war against two others, winning the six bedder with gorgeous views of Gordons Bay.</p> <p>Photos in the publication showed her celebrating with her daughter and financial advisor, David O’Callaghan.</p> <p>The publication also shared artist’s impression of approved plans for a new building on the site.</p> <p>The reason for the move came from privacy concerns in Woollahra, with sources claiming the narrow street made it difficult for her to avoid paparazzi.</p> <p>She initially purchased it in June 2020 for $11 million after leaving her previous Vaucluse home that she shared with her ex-husband Lee Henderson, whom she divorced in 2018 after 18 years of marriage.</p> <p>Kylie Sandilands and Jackie re-signed a contract with ARN in 2019, guaranteeing the pair will remain on-air until the end of 2024.</p> <p>The deal means they get paid more than $39,000 each per show.</p> <p><em><a href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News.com.au</a></em> reported that the new contracts mean Kyle and Jackie receive $7-8 million each per year.</p> <p>The iconic pair told <em><a href="http://news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News.com.au</a></em> in November that retirement plans are not yet foreseeable.</p> <p>“The day I die,” Kylie said in reference to retirement.</p> <p>“We already know Jackie is going to stay on air crying and wearing black for the rest of her life. And then there’ll be 15 years of re-runs. Just like a Friends cast member.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

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Painting by four-legged Van Gogh sells for five figures

<p dir="ltr">A very good boy named Van Gogh has raised a hefty sum of money for a good cause. </p> <p dir="ltr">The one-eared four-legged artist has used his extraordinary talents to create his own rendition of his namesake’s masterpiece <em>Starry Night</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">At an online benefit auction for the <a href="https://www.happilyfureverafter.org/">Happily Furever After Rescue</a> in Connecticut, USA, pet food company Pedigree paid $10,000 for the artwork. </p> <p dir="ltr">The rescue home was the one that found Van Gogh his new forever home, after sharing his artistic talents online. </p> <p dir="ltr">All the proceeds of Van Gogh the dog’s auction will benefit the rescue efforts of Happily Furever After, which specialises in rehoming dogs like pit bulls, who can sometimes have a hard time finding homes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The paintings in the current auction, titled “<em>Van Gogh Reimagined</em>,” are all based on compositions by the original Van Gogh.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, unlike a painting by the Dutch master, the dog’s art starts the bidding at just $25 a piece.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Having Van Gogh create some of history’s most famous paintings felt like big shoes to fill,” founder Jaclyn Gartner told <a href="https://news.artnet.com/market/van-gogh-rescue-dog-charity-auction-2264707">Artnet News</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There was a lot more attention to detail this time around to make sure to incorporate all the colours and try to recreate the pieces as closely as possible.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Since finding his new home, Van Gogh has created more than 150 new works of art. </p> <p dir="ltr">To make each masterpiece, a person applies blobs of colours of paint to a canvas placed inside a plastic bag. </p> <p dir="ltr">The talented dog then completes the artwork by licking off a coating of peanut butter or other dog-friendly treats from the outside of the bag, making the artwork inside. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The most exciting part about Van Gogh painting is never really knowing what it’s going to come out to look like as it depends on how his tongue slides across the peanut butter coated bag,” Gartner said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Since we did the art gallery in October, Van Gogh has explored more tasty toppings,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We have begun incorporating other things like ground up liverwurst, pumpkin puree, and goat whip. Painting has become an even more delicious hobby for Van Gogh!“</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Happily Furever After Rescue</em></p>

Art

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Sunrise star's $2 million reno project up for grabs

<p>Sunrise star Edwina Bartholomew’s luxury $2 million home is up for sale.</p> <p>The channel 7 TV presenter has owned the remarkable three-bedroom Dulwich Hill home in Sydney’s inner west for six years and has renovated the historic brick property in that time.</p> <p>“A superbly renovated historic home in one of the Inner West’s most desirable locations,” the marketing collateral for the home reads.</p> <p>“Architecturally designed interiors are complemented by beautiful landscaping front and back, including a glasshouse-style terrace for entertaining. A storybook home of finely crafted luxury.”</p> <p>The two-bathroom home sits on 221sqm and has been valued at $2 million.</p> <p>The median house price for properties in Dulwich Hill sits around $1.855 million, down 4.1 per cent over the past year.</p> <p>According to property records, Bartholomew paid $1.59 million for the house in March 2017.</p> <p>Since purchasing the property, she has done some major renovations to spruce up the home, which is one of the oldest properties in the suburb, for a more contemporary lifestyle.</p> <p>“Our dog ran through the back door at one point chasing a possum, so we had cardboard and gaffa tape holding it together for a bit. It’s much nicer now,” Bartholomew told <em><a href="https://thedesignfiles.net/2023/02/on-the-market-edwina-bartholomew-1-abergeldie-st/?fbclid=IwAR1Iyb5XjhwD3YFzi0Pk8H6ZmxW60oDNDSyENKe_AHBuL8OI21WduOO9wSU&amp;mibextid=Zxz2cZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Design Files</a></em>.</p> <p>“I’ve loved sitting in the study at the front reading a book with the big bay window, or playing up on the terrace with the kids.</p> <p>“We love that we have not only renovated a house, but resurrected a house to last for another century, and countless other families.”</p> <p>The home is scheduled for auction on March 18.</p> <p>Bartholomew is now planning another renovation project in hopes of turning a rural guesthouse into a boutique hotel.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty/BresicWhitney</em></p>

Real Estate

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Block winners hit back at “dummy bid” claims

<p dir="ltr">The winners of <em>The Block: Tree Change</em> have slammed critics <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/block-winners-under-pressure-to-explain-their-relationship-with-mystery-bidder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claiming they had a “dummy bidder”</a> at their auction after walking away with a record-breaking $1.5 million in prize money.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to <em>A Current Affair</em>, Omar Slaimenkhel and Ozmand ‘Oz’ Abu Malik said the accusations were “unfortunate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I feel like it happens in this country a lot. You do so well and the next day you're trying to justify why you won," Omar told the program.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's unfortunate because we do deserve it and we did so well."</p> <p dir="ltr">Their house sold following a bidding war between millionaires Danny Wallis and Adrian Portelli, the latter of whom was known to Omar and Oz.</p> <p dir="ltr">The relationship between them has put the pair under scrutiny and prompted Portelli to respond to the allegations he made “dummy bids” on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I was a genuine buyer with every intention to purchase that property," Portelli wrote.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-93ffb02e-7fff-aaf3-03d1-acf8bac89f35"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm happy to show my bank account for anyone that suggests these were dummy bids."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkpkVmbv1DD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkpkVmbv1DD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Adrian Portelli (@adrian_portelli)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Other contestants on <em>The Block</em> knew that Omar and Oz had spent time with Portelli before the finale and have backed up the trio’s version of events.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I (saw) the boys (Omar and Oz) hanging out with that guy (Portelli) before the auction. They were at his house," Jenny Heath said, adding that she didn’t believe that “dummy bids” were made and that they were just friends.</p> <p dir="ltr">"They're all mates and unfortunately we don't have any millionaire mates.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With Wallis ultimately bagging the home, along with the two others that sold at auction, Sharon Johal described it as “a clash of egos”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The only way I can describe it is a clash of egos. Two guys in a room trying to win the house and I think going in with a strong bid was so smart," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">After their home passed at auction, Sharon and her husband Ankur Dogra are still working to find a buyer.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We had people in the room that were willing to bid up to $5 million and $4.5 million, but something happened and they didn't," she explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We're discussing options with them today, and we're having two new buyers to see the property."</p> <p dir="ltr">Jenny and her teammate Dylan Adams also failed to offload their home on the day.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We've got 13 acres, everyone else has got 10, so it only makes sense for buyers. Fingers crossed," Jenny said smiling.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for the remaining teams who did sell, couple Rachel and Ryan told A Current Affair they “couldn’t be more thankful” for their $170,000 earnings, while Tom Calleja and Sarah-Jane Wilson said they were still grateful despite only winning $20,000.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We're still grateful, we've still got no regrets. It's just back to plumbing. Need a dunny unblocked mate? Give me a yell," Tom joked.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0823508f-7fff-d866-d576-a528e1360083"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: A Current Affair</em></p>

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