Stefan’s Queensland number plate sells for $5.6m, NSW 1 number plate goes for $11.5m

A Queensland number plate owned by hairdressing mogul Stefan Ackerie has sold for $5.6m at auction today, while a NSW plate has gone for $11.5m.

Stefan with the Q1 number plate when he bought it at auction in 1985.

Queensland’s first ever issued number plate owned by a prominent hairdressing icon for almost 40 years has sold for $5.655 million after an online bidding war.

It was sold at auction alongside the first ever plate issued in Australia, the heritage number plate NSW 1, which went for a whopping $11.505 million when bidding closed on Saturday.

The Q1 plate had the most interest via online and by phone bids with the auction down to two hopeful buyers in a bidding war at the end.

The new owners of the historic plates wish to remain anonymous but it’s understood both are passionate collectors.

Gold Coast hairdressing mogul Stefan Ackerie was the owner of the beloved Q1 number plates after he bought them in the Great Plate auction in 1985.

Mr Ackerie said there had always been “a lot of interest” from people wanting to purchase it in the past, but he had never thought about it until the heritage number plate NSW1 was also put on auction.

Hairdressing mogul Stefan with his Q1 number plate which has sold for more than $5m at auction.

He said having it as part of a joint sale felt like the “right time”.

Mr Ackerie said his Q1 number plate had been an incredible part of his world.

“There’s been a lot of interest from the start. It’s never been without interest,” he said.

“I have had a lot of good times with it.

“I’ve had it for 40 years.

“It’s time for another custodian for another 40 years.

“I used to have it on a Porsche and the number one girl (employee) of the month used to have the Porsche with Q1 on it.

“It was on my car for a long time, it’s very synonymous, it’s a plate that gives a lot of excitement to people, when they see it, they beep.

“It’s never had a parking ticket.”

Lloyds Auctions chief operating officer Lee Hames said the NSW1 number plate broke records for the most expensive plate ever sold in Australia.

“It is extremely rare for not only one, but to have two such significant heritage plates in one auction,” he said.

“Our last record for a heritage plate we sold at Lloyds was $330,000.”

On Australia’s largest number plate marketplace, Mr Plates, has Queensland plates listed for over $1 million with “CAT” selling for $4 million, “AAA” for $3.5 million, “RONIN” for $1.3m and ‘CRUZ1NG’ for $1.2m.

While the Q1 and NSW1 prestige plates were sold at a private auction, on Monday Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) will sell off seven other Q number plates that have never been auctioned before.

Abby Moynihan, 22, with some of the number plates that will go to auction next week. Picture: Liam Kidston

The money raised at that auction will go to the Department of Transport of Main Roads.

From 11am, bidding will open for Q364, Q1004, Q2288, Q10002, Q88988, Q202400 and Q608880.

PPQ general manager Joshua Lee said based on recent sales of similar combinations from private sales it was expected the Q364 would sell for more than $70,000.

“It’s the first time PPQ has auctioned a 3 digit Q plate since 2010,” he said.

“Anyone with a valid Queensland CRN will be able to bid on these plates simply by creating

an auction profile on the PPQ website.

“Profits are returned to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and help

fund important road safety initiatives.

“PPQ also supports the Australian Road Safety Foundation which is dedicated to reducing the impacts of road trauma and saving lives on the roads.”

Originally published as Stefan’s Queensland number plate sells for $5.6m, NSW 1 number plate goes for $11.5m