5 days ago
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.
