Forgotten travel essentials, unusual keepsakes, and pieces of aviation history are among the items up for grabs in Brisbane Airport’s annual lost property auction, with the sale raising money for sick and injured children across Queensland.
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The auction features thousands of belongings grouped into almost 700 lots, giving bidders an opportunity to pick up everything from electronic devices and jewellery to outdoor equipment and unexpected finds. All proceeds from this year’s sale will go to the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Brisbane Airport announced the auction on 12 October, following a year in which about 25 million passengers travelled through its terminals.
Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said the fundraiser would help the foundation support children receiving hospital care and their families.
“Every dollar raised through our Lost Property Auction will support the Children’s Hospital Foundation and its work supporting Queensland’s youngest patients receiving hospital care and their families,” he said.
A varied collection with a charitable purpose
Money raised through the auction will help the Children’s Hospital Foundation fund medical research, equipment and programs designed to improve care and outcomes for children. Foundation chief executive Lyndsey Rice said the initiative would give unclaimed belongings a meaningful second life by helping children and families experiencing difficult circumstances.
Lloyds Auctions is supporting the fundraiser by donating its auction services, according to Brisbane Airport. The catalogue covers a wide range of goods, with technology among the major categories. Laptops, tablets, mobile phones, gaming consoles, headphones and smartwatches are included, alongside luxury perfumes, jewellery and new boots.
Outdoor enthusiasts may find camping equipment, tents, sleeping bags, surfboards, bicycles and electric scooters among the available lots. Power tools and other practical items also feature. Some entries are less conventional. A boat’s outboard engine, a vehicle towbar, a sewing machine, a Christmas tree, and a radio-controlled helicopter are among the belongings listed in the airport’s announcement.
Brisbane Airport said some larger items had been left behind because they were overweight or impractical to take aboard an aircraft.
The auction also presents an opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to acquire parts from a Fokker F28 Friendship aircraft that was repurposed as the centrepiece of Brisbane Airport’s Fellowship Place.
Available components include the aircraft’s nose cone, pilot’s seat, control yoke, instruments and sections of the control panel. The items offer a connection to Brisbane’s aviation history beyond the usual electronics and personal belongings found in the catalogue.
Another distinctive lot is Sparkly Brain, a sculpture created by Brisbane artist Rachel Burke. The Children’s Hospital Foundation commissioned the artwork for its 10th birthday to mark a decade of neurological care and research at Queensland Children’s Hospital. The foundation has donated the sculpture to the auction.
Other offerings listed by the airport include VIP sports packages, signed sporting memorabilia, an airport airside tour and a year of free airport parking. Buyers should review the individual listings for details and any applicable conditions.
Read: Confiscated Carry-On Items at Brisbane Airport Find New Purpose with Local Charities
De Graaff said the auction could appeal to people looking for electronics, jewellery or an item to inspire a new hobby ahead of Christmas. The sale combines an eclectic collection of unclaimed belongings with a fundraising effort intended to benefit children and families throughout Queensland. Those interested in participating can browse the available lots and check bidding requirements through Brisbane Airport’s auction page.
How to bid: Visit https://bne.com.au/auction. Online bidding is scheduled to conclude on 8 November 2026, with a livestreamed auction to finish the sale.
Published 16-October-2026
