Sydney Airport's lost property auction includes tech gadgets, perfume, surfboards and Lego sets
Thousands of items have been left behind by travellers passing through Sydney Airport this year.
From duty-free booze and frequently forgotten items like laptops and cameras, to more bizarre items such an electric keyboard and The Lord of the Rings book collection — all are up for auction, with bidding to start at $10.
In the last year, travellers lost about 7000 items in the airport, and while about 5000 of those items were reunited with their owners, a huge collection was sent to Theodore Bruce Auctioneers for auction.
The jewellery category is worth exploring for any travellers who have lost sentimental pieces — a number of the lost gold and diamond-studded rings are engraved with names, dates and initials.
Bidding is currently open, and is set to close next week.
The annual auction supports a different charity each year, with this year's funds going towards free swimming lessons and water safety programs in Sydney.
For every $25 raised, a child will get access to a swimming lesson.
'Swimming is a vital life skill, but our research shows nearly half of Year 6 students in Australia can't swim 50m, and one in 10 children aged five to 14 have never had a swimming lesson,' Royal Life Saving Society Health Promotions Manager Louise Smalley said.
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers Director Casi Prischl said the airport auction was one of their most-loved events.
'People from all over Australia log in to bid, not just for the bargains, but because it supports something meaningful,' Prischl said.
Sydney Airport is also donating $100,000 to kick-start the initiative, which equates to 4000 free swimming lessons 'to children who might otherwise miss out', the airport said.
'In addition to swimming lessons for children, future programs aim to include adult learn to swim and water safety programs as well as broader community-based water safety and recreation programs.'
'Inner West Aquatics will roll out the program to its community in the coming months.'
The items up for auction and when to bid
The items up for auction are separated into five different categories, with auctioneers bringing down the hammer at a different time for each.
For lost property in the technology and gaming category, bidding closes at 11am next Monday.
For the jewellery and watches category, bidding closes at 11am next Tuesday.
For the clothing and shoes category, bidding closes at 11am next Wednesday. Bidding also closes at 2pm that day for the sunglasses, bags and accessories category.
For beauty, alcohol, and home category, bidding closes at 11am next Thursday.
Laser tag sets, sleep apnea machines, mahjon and backgammon sets, breast milk pumps, a footy signed by the 2020 Sydney Swans AFL team, and a large stainless steel time capsule, are among some of the items on offer in the last, largely miscellaneous category.
Here is an idea of the quantity of items up for grabs:
250 laptops
200 earbuds/headphones
60 Kindles
100 pairs of sunglasses
250 pieces of jewellery & watches
250 pieces of clothing
80 handbags & wallets
50 cameras
50 bottles of perfume
40 gaming consoles
40 hair dryers & straighteners
30 plush toys, including a giant 90cm teddy bear
10 boxed Lego sets
four bikes
three surfboards
two sets of golf clubs
a vacuum cleaner
a frying pan and an air fryer
a coffee machine
two pairs of binoculars
The Lord of the Rings book collection
Violin
Electric keyboard
'It's worth noting that checked baggage is managed by individual airlines and is not included in the auction. Travellers looking for lost baggage should contact their airline directly,' Sydney Airport said.
Any items up for auction that are not sold will be donated to charity or put up in the 2026 airport auction.
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Watches, laptops and an air fryer: airport auctions lost and found treasures
An airport's lost property collection is going under the hammer as hundreds of headphones, watches, handbags and laptops are auctioned for a good cause. Thousands of personal items were lost at Sydney Airport as more than 41 million travellers passed through the NSW transport hub in 2024. Sydney Airport has a dedicated lost property team, but anything that cannot be reunited with its owner is sold at auction to benefit young swimmers in the city's inner west. This year's auction includes 250 laptops, 200 earbuds and headphones, 60 Kindles, 100 pairs of sunglasses, 250 pieces of jewellery and watches, 250 pieces of clothing and 80 handbags and wallets. But there were also some more unexpected items in the haul. A vacuum cleaner, a frying pan, an air fryer, a coffee machine, two pairs of binoculars, the Lord of the Rings book collection, a violin and an electric keyboard will also be auctioned. The auction will be run online by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, with bids coming from around the country. The proceeds go towards free swimming lessons for Sydney families at risk of not participating in learn-to-swim or other dedicated water safety programs. "This auction is more than just a chance to score a great find, it's about giving back to our local community," Sydney Airport corporate affairs general manager Josh Clements said. "Together, the Inner West Aquatics team and Sydney Airport are committed to improving water safety, promoting health and wellbeing, giving more of our local children the chance to learn to swim," he said. "We've kicked this fund off with a $100,000 donation and hope the Lost Property Auction will help triple that amount. "For every $25 raised, another child gets a free swimming lesson, equipping them with life-saving skills and confidence in the water, right here in the communities around the airport." More than $1.9 million has been raised for charities and community initiatives through Sydney Airport's Lost Property Auctions since 2013, the airport said. The auction closes between June 9 and 12. An airport's lost property collection is going under the hammer as hundreds of headphones, watches, handbags and laptops are auctioned for a good cause. Thousands of personal items were lost at Sydney Airport as more than 41 million travellers passed through the NSW transport hub in 2024. Sydney Airport has a dedicated lost property team, but anything that cannot be reunited with its owner is sold at auction to benefit young swimmers in the city's inner west. This year's auction includes 250 laptops, 200 earbuds and headphones, 60 Kindles, 100 pairs of sunglasses, 250 pieces of jewellery and watches, 250 pieces of clothing and 80 handbags and wallets. But there were also some more unexpected items in the haul. A vacuum cleaner, a frying pan, an air fryer, a coffee machine, two pairs of binoculars, the Lord of the Rings book collection, a violin and an electric keyboard will also be auctioned. The auction will be run online by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, with bids coming from around the country. The proceeds go towards free swimming lessons for Sydney families at risk of not participating in learn-to-swim or other dedicated water safety programs. "This auction is more than just a chance to score a great find, it's about giving back to our local community," Sydney Airport corporate affairs general manager Josh Clements said. "Together, the Inner West Aquatics team and Sydney Airport are committed to improving water safety, promoting health and wellbeing, giving more of our local children the chance to learn to swim," he said. "We've kicked this fund off with a $100,000 donation and hope the Lost Property Auction will help triple that amount. "For every $25 raised, another child gets a free swimming lesson, equipping them with life-saving skills and confidence in the water, right here in the communities around the airport." More than $1.9 million has been raised for charities and community initiatives through Sydney Airport's Lost Property Auctions since 2013, the airport said. The auction closes between June 9 and 12. An airport's lost property collection is going under the hammer as hundreds of headphones, watches, handbags and laptops are auctioned for a good cause. Thousands of personal items were lost at Sydney Airport as more than 41 million travellers passed through the NSW transport hub in 2024. Sydney Airport has a dedicated lost property team, but anything that cannot be reunited with its owner is sold at auction to benefit young swimmers in the city's inner west. This year's auction includes 250 laptops, 200 earbuds and headphones, 60 Kindles, 100 pairs of sunglasses, 250 pieces of jewellery and watches, 250 pieces of clothing and 80 handbags and wallets. But there were also some more unexpected items in the haul. A vacuum cleaner, a frying pan, an air fryer, a coffee machine, two pairs of binoculars, the Lord of the Rings book collection, a violin and an electric keyboard will also be auctioned. The auction will be run online by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, with bids coming from around the country. The proceeds go towards free swimming lessons for Sydney families at risk of not participating in learn-to-swim or other dedicated water safety programs. "This auction is more than just a chance to score a great find, it's about giving back to our local community," Sydney Airport corporate affairs general manager Josh Clements said. "Together, the Inner West Aquatics team and Sydney Airport are committed to improving water safety, promoting health and wellbeing, giving more of our local children the chance to learn to swim," he said. "We've kicked this fund off with a $100,000 donation and hope the Lost Property Auction will help triple that amount. "For every $25 raised, another child gets a free swimming lesson, equipping them with life-saving skills and confidence in the water, right here in the communities around the airport." More than $1.9 million has been raised for charities and community initiatives through Sydney Airport's Lost Property Auctions since 2013, the airport said. The auction closes between June 9 and 12. An airport's lost property collection is going under the hammer as hundreds of headphones, watches, handbags and laptops are auctioned for a good cause. Thousands of personal items were lost at Sydney Airport as more than 41 million travellers passed through the NSW transport hub in 2024. Sydney Airport has a dedicated lost property team, but anything that cannot be reunited with its owner is sold at auction to benefit young swimmers in the city's inner west. This year's auction includes 250 laptops, 200 earbuds and headphones, 60 Kindles, 100 pairs of sunglasses, 250 pieces of jewellery and watches, 250 pieces of clothing and 80 handbags and wallets. But there were also some more unexpected items in the haul. A vacuum cleaner, a frying pan, an air fryer, a coffee machine, two pairs of binoculars, the Lord of the Rings book collection, a violin and an electric keyboard will also be auctioned. The auction will be run online by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, with bids coming from around the country. The proceeds go towards free swimming lessons for Sydney families at risk of not participating in learn-to-swim or other dedicated water safety programs. "This auction is more than just a chance to score a great find, it's about giving back to our local community," Sydney Airport corporate affairs general manager Josh Clements said. "Together, the Inner West Aquatics team and Sydney Airport are committed to improving water safety, promoting health and wellbeing, giving more of our local children the chance to learn to swim," he said. "We've kicked this fund off with a $100,000 donation and hope the Lost Property Auction will help triple that amount. "For every $25 raised, another child gets a free swimming lesson, equipping them with life-saving skills and confidence in the water, right here in the communities around the airport." More than $1.9 million has been raised for charities and community initiatives through Sydney Airport's Lost Property Auctions since 2013, the airport said. The auction closes between June 9 and 12.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Airport's lost lots auctioned off to teach kids to swim
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More than 2000 items are being auctioned off, with bids starting at $10. Shortly after the auction started, a pair of Apple AirPods Pro, sealed in their box, was leading the interest, with 21 bidders pushing the price up to $200, with more than a week before the auction's end. Those chasing a bargain may be more interested in other lots listing multiple pairs of the popular headphone, with pictures showing varying degrees of damage, questionable cleanliness, and unverified authenticity. Residents living near the airport may be interested in several other noise-cancelling headphones on offer. Laptops and e-readers are some of the other items frequently taken aboard, and subsequently lost by flyers, as well as abandoned airport purchases such as perfumes and duty-free-sized bottles of spirits which make up a significant number of auction items. 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The airport has kicked in $100,000 with hopes the auction can secure another $200,000 to fund swimming lessons for children in Sydney's inner west, over where planes descend on approach to the airport. Jewellery, alcohol and lots and lots of headphones lost by the 40 million passengers who travel through Australia's busiest airport each year are being auctioned off. The Sydney Airport lost property auction, beginning on Monday, hopes to raise funds to pay for swimming lessons for thousands of local children. "This auction is more than just a chance to score a great find, it's about giving back to our local community," the airport's corporate affairs general manager Josh Clements said. More than 2000 items are being auctioned off, with bids starting at $10. Shortly after the auction started, a pair of Apple AirPods Pro, sealed in their box, was leading the interest, with 21 bidders pushing the price up to $200, with more than a week before the auction's end. Those chasing a bargain may be more interested in other lots listing multiple pairs of the popular headphone, with pictures showing varying degrees of damage, questionable cleanliness, and unverified authenticity. Residents living near the airport may be interested in several other noise-cancelling headphones on offer. Laptops and e-readers are some of the other items frequently taken aboard, and subsequently lost by flyers, as well as abandoned airport purchases such as perfumes and duty-free-sized bottles of spirits which make up a significant number of auction items. The airport curfew reduces noise between 11pm and 6am but those struggling to sleep for other reasons could pick up a cheap CPAP sleep apnoea treatment device, among some of the more unusual finds. 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Residents living near the airport may be interested in several other noise-cancelling headphones on offer. Laptops and e-readers are some of the other items frequently taken aboard, and subsequently lost by flyers, as well as abandoned airport purchases such as perfumes and duty-free-sized bottles of spirits which make up a significant number of auction items. The airport curfew reduces noise between 11pm and 6am but those struggling to sleep for other reasons could pick up a cheap CPAP sleep apnoea treatment device, among some of the more unusual finds. Other oddities include an Electrolux vacuum cleaner, and an unrelated, and perhaps erroneously titled, "Hooverboard" - likely abandoned by a traveller unaware the self-balancing mobility devices had been banned from the air by many carriers. Popular items on Monday morning included an 18ct gold bracelet, with 19 bidders pushing the price up to $600. A black Gucci bag had 14 bidders willing to pay up to $320. 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Perth Now
2 days ago
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Airport's lost lots auctioned off to teach kids to swim
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