Used telescopes in Australia typically sell for A$77 to A$480 (about $54 to $335). Telescopes are sold on aperture and mount, and the honest truth worth stating is that a solid mount matters more than magnification — the wobbly-tripod department store scope is why so many end up resold.
What telescopes are worth in Australia
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | A$479 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | A$407 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | A$311 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | A$216 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | A$120 | 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
- Solid equatorial or computerised mounts
- Eyepieces, finder and original tripod included
What pulls it down
- Fungus or coating damage on mirrors and lenses
- Missing eyepieces and finderscopes
Selling a telescope 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.
WishThrift has not opened Australia for trading yet, so this page is a guide rather than a live marketplace — the category becomes browsable here the moment the first Australian sellers list.
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
- Note the aperture and focal length from the tube
- Check the mount holds position without drifting
Getting it ready
- Check the optics for fungus, scratches and dust by looking through and at them in good light.
- Gather every eyepiece, diagonal, finder and adapter, and check the tripod for stability and missing bolts.
Photograph
- The telescope assembled on its mount, whole
- All eyepieces and accessories laid out together
- The mount head and tripod, plus any fungus, scratch or missing part
Put in the description
- Aperture and focal length, and the optical design
- Mount type, and whether it is motorised or has a tracking drive
- Every eyepiece and accessory included, with focal lengths
Aperture, type and mount: “200mm Newtonian Reflector on EQ5 Mount” or “90mm Refractor Telescope with Tripod”. Aperture in millimetres is the search. Never lead with a magnification figure — experienced buyers treat that as a warning sign.
Lifts sharply from September to December as nights draw in and around Christmas. A good scope listed in autumn sells within a fortnight; summer listings are slow.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the A$479 a buyer pays is the A$479 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 telescopes.
- Selling a telescope in Sydney
- Selling a telescope in Melbourne
- Selling a telescope in Brisbane
- Selling a telescope in Perth
- Selling a telescope in Adelaide
- Selling a telescope in Gold Coast
- Selling a telescope in Canberra
Common questions
Where can I sell a telescope 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 there any fungus on the optics?
Look through the tube toward a light and check. Fungus spreads and etches coatings permanently, so it is the fault buyers most want disclosed.
Does a telescope need collimating before selling?
If it is far out, adjusting it makes the instrument demonstrably usable. Basic collimation is straightforward on most designs.
Are the eyepieces worth much?
Good ones are, sometimes a large share of the total. List what you have, since they are valued separately.
More: how to sell a telescope, what telescopes are worth, or Cameras & Photography across Australia.