The popularity of personalised number plates on cars and trucks in Canberra over the years has prompted ArchivesACT to nominate the auctioning of the ACT Bicentennial number plates in 1988 as its Find of the Month for March.
ArchivesACT said that to mark the bicentennial the ACT Administration released two special number plates.
The first release was designed for the general public, with plates available from the Motor Registry from 4 January 1988. The second offered a unique opportunity to purchase a limited edition plate at auction.
The second release saw licence plate aficionados, history buffs and local celebrities flocking to the Albert Hall on 21 July 1988 to try their hand at winning one of the limited run of plates with only the numbers A1 to A200 on them and two special plates of A1788 and A1988.
“The plates were displayed pre-auction at the new Civic ACT Administration shopfront which opened a few weeks before the auction took place,” the Archives said.
“The auction was widely advertised, and the Canberra Times reported an excellent turnout with standing room only and a carpark featuring everything from Ferraris to Utes.
“The auction room itself drew a mix of suits, celebrities and locals.”
Archives ACT said the first piece to be auctioned was the A1 plate which was sold to local real estate agent, Philip Kouvelis for the highest price of the day at $20,000. Number A2 went for half as much and altogether the sales on the day increased the ACT Administration’s coffers by $446,000.
“After the bidding was done, the successful bidders were given a fortnight to make the final payment on their purchase,” the Archives said.
“Nine plates were not collected and locals enjoyed a second chance when an auction was held in September for their resale.
“For the next few months these plates occasionally popped up as auction items at charity events and in raffles.”
Archives ACT said it was difficult to know how much one of the special plates would fetch now, as it was unable to find one on the open market, but with prices for regular issue bicentenary plates going for around $2,000, it could only be imagined what an exclusive plate could achieve.
