Auction activity across major cities reaches highest level since early 2024
Auction volumes in Australia’s capital cities are set to reach their highest point since the lead-up to Easter last year, with 3,245 homes scheduled to go under the hammer this week, according to property data provider Cotality.
The figure marks a 5.8% increase on last week’s 3,068 auctions and stands 12% above the same period last year, when 2,898 homes were listed.
Sydney is expected to see its busiest auction week of the year, with 1,332 properties scheduled, up from 1,186 last week and 1,098 a year ago.
Melbourne is set to host 1,381 auctions, slightly down from 1,388 last week but above the 1,340 recorded during the same week last year. This will be the seventh occasion in 2025 that Melbourne’s weekly auction numbers have exceeded 1,300.
Among the smaller capitals, Brisbane leads with 220 auctions scheduled, compared to 209 last week. Adelaide’s auction numbers have risen to 159 from 130, while Canberra is set for 144 auctions, up from 136. Perth will see nine auctions, down from 16 last week, and Tasmania has no auctions scheduled after three were held last week.
Looking ahead, around 2,980 auctions are expected across the combined capitals next week.
Clearance rates increase
Last week’s results showed 3,068 auctions took place across the capitals, making it the second-busiest week of the year. The previous week saw 2,109 homes auctioned, while 2,848 auctions were held during the same period last year.
The final clearance rate for last week was 65.9%, marginally higher than the previous week’s 65.8%, which had marked the lowest rate since June. A year ago, the clearance rate stood at 58.4%.
Melbourne held 1,388 auctions last week, its fourth-busiest week of the year. The previous week’s total was lower at 502, impacted by the Melbourne Cup Carnival, while 1,330 auctions were held during the same period last year. The city’s clearance rate was 65.9%, up from 61.2% the week before, which had been a 27-week low. Last year, the rate was 59%.
Sydney saw 1,186 auctions last week, its second-busiest week of 2025. The previous week recorded 1,094 auctions, while 1,062 were held a year ago. Sydney’s clearance rate fell to 64.5%, the lowest in 22 weeks, down from 66.3% the week prior. The same week last year saw a clearance rate of 59.8%.
Among the smaller capitals:
- Adelaide posted the highest clearance rate at 75.4%, down from 77.1% the previous week
- Perth’s clearance rate rose to 75% from 66.7%
- Brisbane’s rate increased to 69.9% from 68.8%
- Canberra’s clearance rate was 61.8%, slightly down from 62.1%
- Tasmania held three auctions last week, with one resulting in a sale
Brisbane was the busiest of the smaller capitals with 209 auctions, followed by Canberra (136), Adelaide (130), and Perth (16).
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