Used antique furniture in Australia typically sells for A$115 to A$1,550 (about $81 to $1,100). Antique furniture is bought on originality and construction, so photograph the joints, the underside and the back — that is where a buyer confirms the piece is what you say it is.
What antique furniture is worth in Australia
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | A$1,533 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | A$1,303 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | A$997 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | A$690 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | A$383 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Original surfaces and untouched patina
- Complete sets and matched pairs
What pulls it down
- Over-restoration, which strips original surface
- Veneer lifting and missing sections
Selling antique furniture in Australia
Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.
Australia’s second-hand market is strongly local and strongly seasonal, with most activity concentrated in the eastern capitals and buyers who expect to collect.
Australia Post covers everywhere, but distance pricing is real and interstate parcels cost meaningfully more than local ones.
Australia is a pre-launch market, so it is worth saying what a seller here should expect when it does open. Distance dominates everything: interstate parcels cost several times a metro delivery, and bulky items effectively only sell within a city. Most trade concentrates in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and buyers in those cities expect to collect rather than wait. Seasons run opposite to the northern hemisphere, so listings that follow UK or US timing arrive exactly half a year out of step — warm weather items want September, not March, and winter gear moves from around May.
Working out what yours is worth
- Look for maker’s stamps inside drawers and on backs
- Compare against recent sold results, not old valuations
Getting it ready
- Measure height, width and depth, and check whether the piece comes apart for transport.
- Do not strip, wax heavily or refinish. Original surface is much of the value and refinishing destroys it.
Photograph
- The whole piece from a three-quarter angle in daylight
- The back and underside, which are rarely faked and show true age
- Any maker’s label, plus all damage, repairs and replaced hardware
Put in the description
- Approximate period, and the evidence for it
- Wood or woods used, and whether solid or veneered
- Height, width and depth, and whether it dismantles
Period, item and wood: “Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers, c.1810, Original Handles”. “Original handles” and “original finish” are phrases this market searches and pays for — use them only when true. Include the dimensions in the title if there is room, since buyers have a space in mind.
Steady with a specialist market. Brown furniture is out of fashion and prices are modest, but good original pieces with documented age still find buyers.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the A$1,533 a buyer pays is the A$1,533 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in Australia
Australia is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of Australia with their own page for antique furniture.
- Selling antique furniture in Sydney
- Selling antique furniture in Melbourne
- Selling antique furniture in Brisbane
- Selling antique furniture in Perth
- Selling antique furniture in Adelaide
- Selling antique furniture in Gold Coast
- Selling antique furniture in Canberra
Common questions
Where can I sell antique furniture in Australia?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.
Is the finish original?
Look for even patina and wear in the places hands touch. Say honestly whether it has been refinished — collectors pay a substantial premium for original surface.
Does restoring antique furniture add value?
Often the opposite. Original surface is much of what collectors pay for, so get advice before refinishing anything.
How do I check for woodworm?
Look for small round flight holes and fine dust beneath. Fresh dust means active infestation, which must be treated and disclosed.
More: how to sell antique furniture, what antique furniture is worth, or Art & Collectables across Australia.