[Hanno Spoelstra]

From the auctioneers website:

Spectacular Results as Over 1000 people attend the Auction of The Melbourne Tank Museum
21 April 2006


On the eve of Anzac Day, a 50 year old military museum has been dispersed at auction outside Melbourne with spectacular results. Over 1000 people turned up for the auction of the Melbourne Tank Museum - a life long collection of military tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and anti aircraft guns, compiled by an ex-serviceman, John Belfield. They came from far and wide with their trucks and trailers hoping to take back a piece of the museum. Bonhams & Goodman had hired 15 mobile telephones to cope with the unprecedented phone bidding from interstate and overseas.

"It was an extraordinary auction. Although we had little idea of how to value the tanks as they so rarely come to auction, the result was more than double our expectations, "said Bonhams & Goodman Chief Executive, Tim Goodman.

Private collectors and dealers traveled from England, the Netherlands and the USA to attend the auction which grossed AU$1.47M including buyer's premium of 13.5%. Highlights included Lot 49, an M3 A1 Stuart Light Tank which made $45,000 to the UK trade. Lot 56, a Staghound Heavy Armoured Personnel Car, fetched $62,000 - an incredible price in that it is missing its engine and had pre-sale estimates of $15,000 - 20,000. Lot 61, a lightweight folding Wellbike Motorcycle sold for $6,200 and will remain in Australia. Lot 70, an Australian made Bren Gun Carrier made $21,500 which was an international price. Lot 144, a WW2 anti aircraft gun, at $34,000 was about 30% over the international expectation for that lot.

The wet, freezing cold weather on the outskirts of Melbourne failed to discourage the crowd. Hundreds stayed as the sun set and the light dimmed to bid on the final lots. John Belfield was delighted with the result and now plans to travel on a long trip overseas with his wife Pat as they enter into their retirement. At least four Australian museums and government departments attended the auction and acquired lots. It is unlikely that this event will ever be reproduced in Australia as it was one of the most unique military museums in the world. John Belfield had attempted to sell the museum in its entirety over the last 8 years without success.