Bob Hawke’s treasures could raise $250,000

Fancy a piece of history? Over 250 items belonging to the late Bob Hawke and his wife Blanche d’Alpuget are set to be auctioned.

Auctioneer Andre Shapiro with items up for auction in the home office of former prime minister Bob Hawke. Picture: AAP

There’s little for Labor true believers at the Bob Hawke estate sale, but for $300 there’s a used cast-iron fire tool set that could be used to keep the Light on the Hill burning. Or a pair of grey table lamps for those looking to spend less than $200.

254 items belonging to the late former prime minister and his wife Blanche d’Alpuget will be auctioned by Shapiro on Tuesday night at Sydney’s Paddington RSL.

Bob Hawke’s fishing rods. Picture: AAP

Scrolling through the sale, wistfully entitled ‘Mementos, Curiosities, Art and Design’ which is estimated to raise around $250,000, gives a new meaning to the phrase everything but the kitchen sink.

For between $100 and $200 you could take home: a three piece BBQ set, 11 pewter mugs, an inscribed glass Hahn Beer Mug, a 1984 silver plated tray from the Prime Minister Housing Industry Association Perpetual Cricket Trophy, three fishing rods, two walking sticks, a set of 12 wood placemats with Italian figures, an outdoor Chaise longue or a white bougainvillea.

Over $14,000 gets you Euan Macleod’s ‘Lone Figure in Gully’ painting from 1991.

A Hahn beer mug bearing former prime minister Bob Hawke's name. Picture: AAP

But one thing’s clear — everything’s gotta go, including the bedside tables and Samsung flat screen TV (for between $300 and $500).

You could put your feet up on Hawke’s Italian waterfall coffee table for $800 and recline in his two seater Italian leather sofa for $2,500. If an African carved wooden chair depicting a woman holding a water jar is more your style, that’s $500. A basic burgundy leather office chair is optimistically priced at $400, potentially a bargain for those looking for something Hawke may have sat on.

If you’re in the market for a Father’s Day gift, how about three pairs of binoculars used by the horse racing fan, with cases measuring 19cm, for $200? Or there’s over 60 golf clubs, a collection of cricket helmets used by the Australian cricket team and a Hawke’s Lager eksy with six pack for $300.

A pair of binoculars used by former prime minister Bob Hawke to watch the horse racing. Picture: AAP

A collection of Australian cricket helmets and balls. Picture: AAP

It’s not too expensive to drink from Hawke’s personal liquor collection, with a 1990 Penfolds Cab Sav and Granges from 1997 and 2010 on sale for steal at less than $200 each. There’s also a “possibly corked” series of magnums for $200 and a “Bob Hawke Vintage Port” carrying a label signed by the man himself for between $300 and $500.

As you’d expect, there’s many assorted cigar accessories including a gold plated lighter, two boxes of Davidoff’s “limited art edition” cigars, multiple humidors, and a blue Wedgwood ashtray which comes with a Waterford crystal photo frame and a picture of Hawke and d’Alpuget with fellow former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd and his wife Thérèse Rein.

A signed framed photograph of Don Bradman. Picture: AAP

If you’re looking for something that may have touched Hawke’s lips there’s two coffee mugs or a monogrammed sterling silver whiskey flask. Also on offer — an Alessi champagne bucket, glass decanters, a pair of chromed metal candelabras, 27 green and blue wine glasses, assorted crystal glasses, two crystal candlesticks and a pair of sterling silver footed goblets.

For between $500 — $700 you could be the proud owner of a silver footed bowl gifted to Bob Hawke by former US secretary of Defence Dick Cheney.

There really is something for everyone.

For antique lovers, there’s a 12 piece ivory handled cutlery set from 1890 or a pair of Victorian sterling silver meat dishes from 1875 each for $1,500. Also on offer a Georg Jensen sterling silver tie bar, a black ostrich leather pouch and a sterling silver soup ladle made in 1908 by Mark of William Chawner II.

Bob Hawke's black ostrich leather pouch. Picture: AAP

Future graduates could walk the stage in the academic robe and cap worn when Hawke received a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of South Australia for just $200.

Classical music aficionados could enjoy two conductor batons including one used by Hawke to conduct the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah at the Opera House in 2009. Length 35.5cm. Price $200 — $400.

Bob Hawke conducts the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah performed by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs at the Sydney Opera House. Picture: AAP

The bulk of the collection is art: African masks, Aboriginal wood carvings, Chinese scrolls, Japanese golek puppets, Persian silk rugs, political cartoons, a portrait of Hawke by Richard Freeman, a Korean carved gourd and an Afghan wall hanging from the husband of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.