Melbourne antique industry stalwart Graham Geddes has finally called it a day after 50 years in the business and stepped down as head and director of Graham Geddes Antiques in favour of his two daughters, Lil and Liv.

As a result, Christian McCann Auctions has been asked to auction Geddes entire stock on site at his antique shop at 883 High Street, Armadale over two days from midday Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20.

Graham Geddes finally retiring from the business he had built up over half a century is a significant event.

Examples of European decorative arts sourced from all parts of the world will be on show from 6.30pm Monday May 7 at Leonard Joel’s national decorative arts auction at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

Jointly organised by the company’s offices in Sydney and Melbourne, the auction will showcase the Patti David collection – comprising elegant furniture and paintings from her Sydney Woolloomooloo residence – and Melbourne’s the De Stoop collection comprising sophisticated 18^th and 19^th century antiques.

Art auction house Menzies is celebrating its 20^th anniversary in style with a sale of carefully selected paintings that include such iconic Australian artists as Russell Drysdale and Jeffrey Smart.

It has been a successful art journey for executive chairman Rod Menzies who began his Melbourne operation as Deutscher~Menzies in Malvern before purchasing the current premises at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra a few years later.

A John Glover watercolour entitled Fishermen is one of the highlights of Kim’s Auctions latest sale from 11am Sunday April 29 on site at 711 Toorak Road, Kooyong.

Glover (1767-1849) was an English-born Australian artist known as the “father of Australian landscape painting”.

Arriving in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) on his 64^th birthday with a strong reputation as a landscape painter, Glover is best known for his Tasmanian landscapes.

Paintings, furniture and other collectables from deceased estates and private household consignments are the major drawcards for E.J. Ainger’s special sale over two days from 11am Saturday April 28 and Sunday April 29 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

These are bound to appeal to collectors, connoisseurs and home decorators.

A stately Toorak mansion has provided most of the paintings including works by notable Australian artists Ethel Carrick Fox, Emanuel Phillips Fox, Ernest Buckmaster, Tom Roberts, Henry Gritten, Charles Conder and Rick Amor.

Auction goers will be able to obtain a slice of Adelaide history when the estate of Lady June Porter goes under the hammer in her home at 4/22 Bagot Street, North Adelaide from noon Sunday April 22.

Sir Robert (Tom) and Lady June Porter (who died in October last year aged 98) were an integral part of Adelaide’s social life and held the position of Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress from 1968 to 1971.

Born in 1919 in Melbourne, she moved to Perth with her family as a child and at the age of 18 was crowned Miss Western Australia.

English and continental furniture from the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries will be among the highlights of Christian McCann Auctions latest sale when the entire contents of 51 Hopetoun Road, Toorak goes under the hammer on site from midday Sunday April 22.

These include draw leaf extension tables, library bookcases and French centre and console tables – most purchased from major Melbourne antique shops such as John Dunn Antiques, Graham Geddes Antiques, Glenleigh Antiques and Sotheby’s, and many with the original receipts.

A collection of rare 17^th and 18^th century oak furniture, Roman antiquities and 18^th century lacquered cabinets are the highlights of Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday April 15 on site at 69 Avoca Street, South Yarra.

The collection belongs to a retired gentleman, who does not wish to be named, and who is relocating to his Sorrento residence on the Mornington Peninsula.

A collection of rare 17^th and 18^th century oak furniture, Roman antiquities and 18^th century lacquered cabinets are the highlights of Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday April 15 on site at 69 Avoca Street, South Yarra.

The collection belongs to a retired gentleman, who does not wish to be named, and who is relocating to his Sorrento residence on the Mornington Peninsula.

A collection of grandfather clocks leads the billing at E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming auction from 9.30am Tuesday April 10 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

The auction features a fine selection of retro teak sideboards (lot 732), a teak sliding door bookcase (lot 531) and nests of tables (lot 736).

An attraction for musicians is a Yamaha walnut cased piano and stool (lot 744) – while a French style gilt wood and marble top console table and mirror (lot 600) should bring plenty of attention along with a French cherry wood parquetry top buffet (lot 675).