The David Newby Collection of Australian Art

The David Newby Collection of Australian Art

Selling for a total of $4.6 million with 174% sold by value, the rare and prestigious private collection of David Newby’s was assembled with great enthusiasm and foresight over more than thirty years and represented defining moments in the achievements of Australia’s most influential and revered artists.  Reflective of the empathy and love that David Newby, together with his late wife Mary Jan, found in historical, modern and contemporary Australian art, it was a collection that reflected the intelligence and passion of a person with a global perspective who possessed a deep and abiding interest in and empathy for Australia’s cultural achievements.

The sale opened at a cracking pace with a new auction record for Elioth Gruner’s Fisherman, Coogee Beach 1913 for $164,700 (estimate $60,000-80,000, lot 1).  This was quickly followed by an auction record for Ray Crooke’s Thursday Island 1958 for $170,800 (estimate $70,000-90,000, lot 4).

Stunning results were achieved at Sotheby’s Australia’s May sale of The David Newby Collection of Australian Art and Important Australian Art with its highest auction result achieved in ten years.  The sale total of $14,258,750 and 149.6% sold by value surpassed the two night sale results of May 2016.