Lost & Found Fortune: Brisbane Airport’s Treasure Chest Goes Under the Hammer
If you’ve ever left your laptop at airport security or said a tearful goodbye to your favourite sunglasses somewhere between gate 17 and eternity, brace yourself — Brisbane Airport’s Lost Property Auction is here to make you feel seen… and maybe a little regretful.
Over 800 unclaimed items — everything from designer handbags to a literal black box — have been rounded up for what’s being called the largest lost property auction in Brisbane Airport’s 100-year history.
Every item starts at $1, with all proceeds going to Queensland’s children’s charities. So yes, your absent-mindedness is now officially tax-deductible philanthropy.
Gold, Gadgets & Ghosts of Gate 23
Among the glittering highlights is a Bvlgari 18K gold diamond necklace valued at $11,000 — apparently the most glamorous thing to ever roll past baggage claim.
Other treasures include laptops, cameras, scooters, surfboards, and a mysterious stash of aviation memorabilia, including a cockpit voice recorder and a genuine International Terminal Departure sign. Perfect for that “industrial chic” home office or the world’s most committed flight simulator setup.
“Every single item is completely unreserved,” said Lloyds Auctions’ Chief Operations Officer, Lee Hames, grinning like a man who’s found the golden ticket in his Samsonite. “We’ve got bidders lining up across the country hoping to uncover treasures — and all for a good cause.”
Advertisement:
100 Years of Brisbane Airport: History Up for Bids
To celebrate the airport’s centenary, some of the more sentimental lots include vintage signage and memorabilia marking 100 years of Queensland aviation history.
“It’s always fascinating to see what gets left behind by the 70,000 passengers who pass through Brisbane Airport each day,” said Peter Doherty, the airport’s media and communications manager. “This year we’re hoping to raise $100,000 to support Queensland children’s charities.”
Last year’s auction fetched $90,000 for the Courier-Mail Children’s Fund, with proceeds supporting groups like Little Wings, Baby Give Back, and Cystic Fibrosis Queensland.
This year’s line-up also includes VIP experiences like an airside tour of Brisbane Airport, a year of free parking, and memorabilia from the Brisbane Lions and Brisbane Heat.
Bid, Stream, or Just Dream
The auction closes Sunday, 2nd November, and will be live-streamed from 10am AEST — so you can watch in real-time as someone else wins the necklace you swear you only left on the tray “for a moment.”
Bidding is open now via Lloyds Auctions, where your next guilty pleasure purchase could also help change a child’s life.
So go ahead — make your bid. Just remember to check your baggage before you leave the airport. Brisbane Airport’s already collecting stock for next year’s auction.
Related stories
Collecting Rookie Baseball Cards: Auction Records and Cards for Beginners
Pre-Columbian Art and Native American Beadwork at Auction
Vivian Maier Vintage Photography Auction Bargains
Photography Appraisals, Auction Agent and Authentication
Glossary of photography terms for auction & collectors – with examples.
A Short History of Collecting Cigarette Sport Cards
Advertisement:
