Queensland 'Q1' plate challenges 'NSW 1' in $13m+ State of Origin-style bid

A State-of-Origin-style numberplate battle is underway after Lloyds Auctions announced the first Queensland Heritage Plate 'Q1' is joining New South Wales' equivalent, which has already exceeded $10 million in the bidding process.

Lloyds says it is almost 40 years since the 'Q1' plate, among the first plates issued in Queensland, last went under the hammer.

Bidding has already reached $3 million within half a day of the number plate being made available.

It still has some way to go to match the current $10m bid for the 'NSW 1' numberplate, which Lloyds described as "the most sought-after Heritage Plate in Australia".

“This is an extremely rare occurrence for 1, let alone 2, heritage plates with such history and rarity to be offered at auction ever in a single auction, it is unheard of in Australian history ever,” said Lloyds Auctions' COO, Lee Hames.

“The amount of enquiry from right around the country of people wanting to sell their heritage plates after the ‘NSW 1’ was listed is phenomenal and out of that came this ‘Q1’ heritage plate. Who knows what else might be brought forward to auction between now and the end of January."

Lloyds believes there have been only two owners of the 'Q1' plate, first issued more than a century ago in 1921.

The auctions for both heritage plates will be completed over the Australia Day weekend in January 2024.