A remarkable auction has occurred in Queensland’s history, featuring the opulent belongings of a fraudulent prince being sold off.
On Sunday, the Public Trustee auctioned off items belonging to Joel Barlow, the ex-public servant who embezzled over $16 million from Queensland Health while pretending to be Tahitian royalty.
The auction attracted a large crowd, with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate participating as a bidder.
He expressed his intention to acquire a Hermes saddle for an upcoming polo match against an Indian maharaja.
Among the first items to be auctioned was a Chanel necklace, which sold for approximately $2,000—nearly double its retail value.
In total, there were 1,500 items available, including kitchenware, a Brett Whiteley screen print, two apartments, watches, and even a half-used bar of soap belonging to Barlow.
Certain items still displayed police evidence stickers.
Auctioneer John D’Agata mentioned that the collection was expected to generate as much as $300,000.
“It is a remarkable collection. He made excellent purchases. He acquired signed pieces. This auction is truly intriguing,” he stated.
Barlow is scheduled for sentencing later this month.
