Live auction buzz to return to Geelong

The excitement of live auctions is returning to Geelong as Moorabool Antiques prepares to hold its first of the year on February 22.

After running six successful Antique and Art Auctions online last year, the owners of the local business have made the decision to introduce the live event to their auction space.

Moorabool Antiques owner Paul Rosenberg said auctions were an event, rather than just a place where items are sold, and they created a sense of community.

“A lot of customers miss the buzz of the auction and they know the other people, especially somewhere like Geelong, it’s just a big town where everybody knows everybody.

“It’s a real group of people with similar interest and they’re all out for a bargain, too.

“The computer is so impersonal when you don’t actually ever talk to anybody during the bidding process.”

Holding the auction in person will also allow potential buyers to inspect the pieces before placing a bid, with a period of inspection taking place on February 21 and February 22.

“People can come and actually prod and push and try things out and that makes a big difference compared to buying online,” Mr Rosenberg said.

Antique and Art Auctions started running as part of the business last year in response to demand from the public.

At the coming event, buyers can expect a range of pieces from items made in Australian and World War One Memorabilia through to furniture and carvings.

The auction will also include some Victorian pieces, with Mr Rosenberg saying the items were not as popular at the moment, and as a result, prices were very low.

“They are such incredible value, beautifully handmade, beautiful wood and they’ve never been as inexpensive to buy as this moment in time.

“There’ll be some absolute bargains along the Victorian furniture line.”

For more than 60 years Moorabool Antiques has been part of the region, with Mr Rosenberg a second-generation owner.

Outside of the auctions, the Ryrie Street store has more than 10,000 pieces on sale and the largest range of antique ceramics in Australia, filling the double storey building.

All items in the auction will be shown on the big screen and the bidding process will be streamed live on invaluable.com for people who cannot make it to the room.

For more information, head to moorabool.com