Weak results seen across most major capitals
Auction numbers across Australia’s capital cities fell sharply during the Easter long weekend, with just 652 homes going under the hammer — a significant drop from the 3,066 auctions held in the week leading up to Easter, according to CoreLogic.
While a seasonal lull is expected over the holiday period, the latest figures also show a notable year-on-year decline. Over the same period in 2024, 901 properties were auctioned.
“The drop in activity is typical over the Easter long weekend, but activity was well down on the Easter period a year ago,” said CoreLogic research analyst Caitlin Fono (pictured above).
With fewer auctions held, CoreLogic advises caution when interpreting the results. The preliminary clearance rate across the combined capitals was 64.7% last week, slightly lower than the previous week’s initial figure of 64.8%, which later revised down to 59.9%. This marks the lowest rate so far this year, outside of the typically erratic January numbers.
Sydney recorded the highest number of auctions, with 358 properties listed — down from 414 during Easter 2024. The harbour city’s preliminary clearance rate inched up to 67.9%, compared with 65.5% the week before. Still, this marks the fifth consecutive week that early clearance results in Sydney have remained below 70%.
Melbourne saw a more pronounced fall in auction numbers, with only 153 homes listed last week, compared to 283 in the previous Easter period. The city’s early clearance rate also slid to 61.1%, its lowest result since September 2024.
Among the smaller capitals, Brisbane hosted 60 auctions, with a preliminary clearance rate of 55%. Adelaide saw 51 properties auctioned and returned a stronger 68.6% rate. The Australian Capital Territory held 28 auctions, achieving a 55.6% clearance rate. Perth had just two properties listed, with one reported as sold. No auctions were held in Tasmania.
Looking ahead, auction volumes are forecast to recover moderately. CoreLogic expects approximately 1,060 homes to be auctioned this week, climbing to around 1,480 the following week. However, post-Easter figures usually remain subdued until the market picks up again in spring.
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