Used antiques in Australia typically sell for A$48 to A$1,150 (about $34 to $810). Antiques are bought on age, maker and originality, and the most common mistake sellers make is restoring something before listing it — which usually removes value rather than adding it.
What antiques are worth in Australia
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | A$1,150 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | A$977 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | A$747 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | A$517 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | A$287 | 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
- Matched sets and complete pieces
What pulls it down
- Over-restoration, which removes original surface
- Brown furniture and categories that have fallen out of favour
Selling antiques 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.
Seasons are inverted relative to the UK and North America: warm-weather items move from September, and winter gear from around May.
Working out what yours is worth
- Photograph every mark, stamp and label you can find
- Compare against recent sold results, not old valuations
Getting it ready
- Measure the piece and note the materials, and look for signs of age such as hand-cut joints or irregular wear.
- Do not polish, strip or repair anything. Original surface and patina are much of what a collector is paying for.
Photograph
- The whole piece from a three-quarter angle in daylight
- The construction detail — joints, screws, underside — that indicates age
- All damage, repairs and areas of wear
Put in the description
- Approximate period or date, and what that estimate is based on
- Materials, dimensions and weight
- Any maker’s marks, stamps, labels or signatures, transcribed
Period, item and material: “Victorian Mahogany Writing Box with Brass Inlay, c.1880”. Give an approximate date with a “c.” if you are not certain, and say what your estimate is based on. Vague dating claims reduce trust with exactly the buyers who pay most.
Steady with a specialist buyer base. Well-documented pieces with clear marks sell within weeks; unmarked items take longer and sell on appearance.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the A$1,150 a buyer pays is the A$1,150 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 antiques.
- Selling antiques in Sydney
- Selling antiques in Melbourne
- Selling antiques in Brisbane
- Selling antiques in Perth
- Selling antiques in Adelaide
- Selling antiques in Gold Coast
- Selling antiques in Canberra
Common questions
Where can I sell antiques 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.
How old is it?
Give an approximate period and say what it is based on — a mark, a construction method, family history. Honest uncertainty is respected far more than a confident guess.
Does restoration increase value?
Often the opposite. Over-restoration strips original surface, which is much of what collectors pay for. Get advice before refinishing.
How do I identify a maker?
Look for stamps, labels and marks on undersides, backs and inside drawers, and photograph everything you find.
More: how to sell antiques, what antiques are worth, or Art & Collectables across Australia.