Graham Lancaster Auctions specialises in Australiana, antique bottles, Australian Pottery and advertising antiques, achieving consistent Australian record prices that prove its market authority. Brisbane-based and operating Australia-wide, we’ve led the specialist auction market since 2000. At the heart of everything is Graham Lancaster, founder and principal auctioneer.
The Lancaster family has been at the heart of Queensland’s antique and collectables industry for over half a century. Graham’s late father, Gary Lancaster, was a highly respected and renowned specialist and dealer in Australiana, antique bottles and advertising antiques. His passion and expertise laid the foundation for what Graham Lancaster Auctions is today.
Graham Lancaster has been an antique dealer since the 1980s, operating the successful Lancaster’s Toowoomba Antique Centre from 1996. A collector from a young age, Graham’s passion for the field began as a schoolboy digging for old bottles. As a teenager he travelled with his father, attending antique and collectors fairs across the country. Those formative years cemented a deep knowledge and understanding that established Graham as a leading authority in his field.
Graham is driven by his passion for Australiana and genuinely values the relationships he’s built with vendors and buyers over decades. He prides himself on mentoring new collectors, sharing his knowledge to guide them in building serious collections.
Achieving record prices and delivering exceptional results, along with genuine customer service, remains at the core of everything we do. Over 25 years, this track record has earned lasting trust with the collecting community nationwide.
For New and Established Collectors
Whether you’re a seasoned collector seeking museum-quality pieces or new to collecting with a modest budget, our expertise spans the full spectrum of the market. We handle quality collections across all price points, from accessible entry-level pieces for those new to collecting, to premium rarities for established collectors.
World Record Results
(Prices include 16.5% Buyers Premium)
- August 2024: Wellington Jug by Jonathan Leak, early convict potter, achieved $75,725, setting a world record for Australian colonial pottery.
- August 2026: Colonial King Plate achieved $55,340, setting a world record price for a significant Australian cultural artifact.
- January 2026: J.W. Allison Toothpaste Pot Lid achieved $41,940, setting a world record price for an Australian pot lid.
- November 2024: Two Gallon Castlemaine Brewery Demijohn achieved $41,940, setting a world record for an Australian Demijohn.
- August 2026: Pot Lid & Base, The Australian Homeopathic Ointment achieved $37,280, setting a world record price for a Pratt lid.
- August 2024: Dump Codd Antique Bottle, ‘Evan Rowlands, Rowlands Late Rowlands & Lewis, Ballarat & Melbourne’ achieved $32,035, setting a world record price for a Dump Codd, one of the best coloured examples known.
- November 2025: Grace Seccombe Bowerbird Figurine from the Keith Free Collection achieved $30,290, the highest price ever achieved for a piece of Grace Seccombe.
- August 2026: Early Hamilton Bottle, J. Schweppe & Co achieved $18,060, setting a world record price for a Hamilton torpedo bottle.
- August 2026: Loma Lautour Figurine achieved $15,145, setting a world record price for an Australian Loma Lautour figurine.
With a database of over 10,000 collectors across Australia and worldwide, we reach serious buyers through targeted advertising in specialist collector publications including Antiques to Vintage magazine, the Australian Bottle & Collectables Review, Australiana journal and the Automobilia Collectors Club of Australia magazine, strong social media campaigns, participation in major collectors fairs and bottle shows, and active engagement with online collector communities. We also maintain strong relationships with fellow specialist auction houses including Roycroft Auctions and ABCR Auctions, reflecting the close-knit nature of Australia’s antique collecting community.
We can appraise, market and deliver you the very best results. For a free confidential appraisal, contact us.