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Three senior auctioneers from NSW will return to the Australasian Auctioneering Championships (AUSTROS) competition mid-May to battle once again for the prestigious title of best auctioneer across Australia and New Zealand.
Following the REINSW Awards for Excellence Seniors Competition, three senior auctioneers from NSW – Paul Hancock of McGrath, Clarence White of Menck White Auctioneers and Leon Axford of Axford Auctions – have been selected for the 2025 AUSTROS auctioneering competition.
The three participants, all seasoned contenders, have either reached the finals or claimed the title in previous years and are now returning to the AUSTROS scene in pursuit of the grail.
Clarence White of Menck White Auctioneers, who won the competition in 2022, said the AUSTROS championships culminate months or even years of preparation.
“You’re going to an event where you compete against the best auctioneers from around Australia and New Zealand. These guys are all at a top level, it’s a blessing to get through and get in to have another crack.”
“It is a very hard competition to win, just being able to go there, on that stage is a privilege,” White said.
White, who has been an auctioneer for over a decade, will make his eighth trip to the competition, having learnt much from his previous attempts.
“The biggest difference between the first few times and now is that you learn to manage your emotions better.”
“Just managing your energy and emotions around the competition affects how you perform when you step out on stage. If you’re too nervous, keyed up or excited, then you call differently,” White said.
According to the seasoned auctioneer, the AUSTROS competition is a tough championship in which contestants take years to hone their skills through consistent, intensive training, almost to have them become muscle memory.
“The competition is extremely challenging, testing participants under pressure with more difficult content and numbers than you would have on a weekend auction.
“Success typically comes from a fanatical dedication to practise, where techniques become instinctive through repetition and real-world use.”
White said that serious contenders for the competition prepare for years, crafting their materials, descriptions, numbers and delivery, listening to other auctioneers regularly, and taking any feedback from previous competitions.
“I always take my little brown book with me, where I write down any little good things that I see, whether it’s a good line or a great way of handling something, just taking in little bits and pieces,” he said.
Similarly to White, senior auctioneer Paul Hancock returns to the AUSTROS competition after losing in the finale last year on his first attempt.
“This is my second time at the AUSTROS competition. I feel nervous and excited – it’s on another level.”
“While I would love to win this time, we are up against the best, and there is certainly some apprehension about what they’re going to throw at you,” Hancock said.
With nearly 10 years of experience as an auctioneer, Hanckock, who started calling auctions as a side hustle, fell in love with the profession, which has allowed him to use his previous TV and voice over work experience to the fullest.
“It definitely doesn’t hurt having that background in terms of presenting, having the confidence to present and thinking quickly on your feet.”
“You also learn how to control your voice while also being entertaining,” he said.
According to Hancock, good auctioneers have a lot of different shades of personality, which allows them to be flexible and connect with all types of buyers, whether they are seasoned investors, first home buyers, single, couples or elderly.
“You need to be able to sort of weave seamlessly between being likeable and being firm to be in control and for buyers to trust and listen to what you’re saying on the floor.”
While the heart of the auction is the property, Hancock said an auctioneer can make or break the process.
“Auctioneers are here to get the best price for the vendors and get the buyers their dream house, but it is still a stressful process for the people involved.”
“While the focus isn’t on humour, it can help break the tension. If you can get people smiling, that only endears you to them and you’re more likely to get them to respond to encouragement,” he said.
Similar to other contenders, Hancock has been preparing for the AUSTROS with his team by building sequences, throwing numbers at each other and sharpening their delivery.
“I just practise weird numbers and try to do the additions as quickly as I can, and maybe if I’m in the car by myself, I drive around and sort of make up imaginary bids and add them together as quickly as possible.
“My strengths aren’t in the quick additions like some of the other auctioneers, but it comes from being able to connect with buyers, hopefully have good energy and do it all with a smile, and hopefully they can set me apart.”
This year, the AUSTROS features 17 senior auctioneers across Australia and New Zealand, with the competition set in Adelaide from 13–15 May 2025.
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