‘Unicorn’ number plates up for grabs

A set of historic NSW licence plates, described as “the ultimate never before seen unicorn” are up for auction for the first time in 110 years, with bidding hitting an eye-watering sum.

A set of historic NSW licence plates, described as “the ultimate never before seen unicorn” are up for auction for the first time in 110 years with an eye-watering price tag.

A set of historic NSW licence plates, described as “the ultimate never before seen unicorn” by auctioneers Lloyd’s are up for grabs for the first time in 110 years, with bidding hitting an eye-watering sum.

The NSW heritage plates NSW 1 are “the most sought-after heritage plate in Australia,” according to the auction house.

Online bidding for the plates, which still has another 43 days to run, is currently at over $8 million.

Lloyd’s said the plates have been “tightly held for decades by the current custodian” and have never been offered for public auction before.

They are described as “the holy grail must-have for any blue-chip passion investor or the no. 1 gift for that person who has ‘everything’.”

Bidding for the NSW 1 number plates is already over $7 million.

Quoting an article from The Sydney Morning Herald, the auction house said the NSW 1 plates were originally issued to the vehicle of the state’s first police commissioner.

In the 1930s the plates were then bought by Sir Frederick Stewart, a successful Newcastle railway, bus and airline entrepreneur and federal politician whose Oldsmobile sported the plates before his death in 1961.

The story goes that in 1988 his widow, Lady Marjorie Stewart, declined an offer of $200,000 for the plates, which were then on her 1981 Ford Fairmont LTD.

Hopes that the plates would come onto the market when Lady Stewart died in 2000 never eventuated.

Sir Frederick Stewart, a successful Newcastle railway, bus and airline entrepreneur and federal politician bought the plates in the 1930s.

Lloyd’s said this “will probably be the last” time the plates are offered for sale, as rare heritage plates such as these are usually passed down through generations.

They are describing the sale as “truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure the most desirable and prestigious number plates in Australia”.

The value comes from the rarity of such plates, with only nine single digit number plates available in each state.

The NSW 1 plates here on a Daimler.

“These are as rare as hens’ teeth and the perfect addition to any rare classic or prestige vehicle,” the auction house continued.

“In fact, you could potentially say that the number plate will be most likely worth MORE than the car.”

The auctioneers said that “due to the extreme rareness and importance of this amazing piece of history,” bidders need to be pre-approved.

At its current bidding levels, NSW 1 will be the most expensive number plate to sell in Australia.

In 2017, NSW 4 sold for $2.45 million.