Timbertown Auction
Auction Viewing
Onsite at Timbertown
Timbertown, Oxley Hwy, Wauchope 2446
April
Sat 18th & Sun 19th:
10am – 2pm
Sat 25th & Sun 26th:
10am – 2pm
Wed 29th & Thurs 30th:
10am – 3pm
Please no small children or dogs in buildings.
A couple of large items may remain in park, example Rail brake van and railway line, please make a time if wanting to view those.
May 1 – 3, 2026
Auction now Open online.
Everything is going.
Timbertown is happy to hold large items to give buyers time to organise transport. For smaller items that need posting please refer to https://oilyragauctions.com/shipping/
These are the item groups that will be auctioned:
- Railway memorabilia including locomotives
- Blacksmith shop and tools
- Antique woodworking tools
- Steam engines
- Vintage toys
- School house and church items including bells
- Fire station and contents
- Vintage vehicles
- Garagenalia
- Saddlery equipment
- Paddle boats
- Printers tools and equipment
- Historic signs
- Vast array of Australiana
When is the Timbertown Auction?
The Timbertown Auction will be held on May 1 -3, 2026 by Oily Rag Auctions.
How do I sign up to bid on the Timbertown Auction?
We will soon be providing multiple ways to sign up and bid on the auction.
Online bidding is now open:
Please come back to this page closer to the auction date to view the auction bidding options.
Please also view our Shipping page to view options for shipping your winning bid items
Timbertown is happy to hold large items to give buyers time to organise transport. For smaller items that need posting please refer to https://oilyragauctions.com/shipping/.
Timbertown & the Timbertown Auction
Over nearly five decades, Timbertown welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Australia and overseas, becoming a beloved family-friendly heritage destination. School groups, tourists and local residents embraced the chance to connect with Australia’s colonial and timber-industry past, watching steam engines chuff through forest clearings, bullock teams demonstrate hauling techniques, and sawmill belts and blades in action.
Despite its popularity, Timbertown’s journey was not without challenges. The village occasionally faced financial and operational hurdles, leading to periods of difficulty and even closure. In 2009, after a council-led review and expression of interest process, the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council sold Timbertown to private owners David and Alison Waite, who took over on 1 June 2010. One of their first priorities was restoring the idle steam train, which was relaunched later that year to widespread acclaim. Under the Waites’ stewardship,
Timbertown adopted a renewed focus on sustainability and heritage interpretation, balancing operational costs with community engagement. The village continued to evolve with seasonal programs, interactive demonstrations, artisan displays, and events that kept its pioneer theme alive for new generations.
However, in 2025 and into early 2026, Timbertown faced a pivotal moment. After 16 years of ownership, the Waites decided to put Timbertown up for sale, citing retirement and the difficulty of maintaining the attraction. Unfortunately, prospective buyers were reportedly more interested in the land value than in continuing the heritage village itself, reflecting broader economic pressures on regional tourism assets. As a result, Timbertown’s owners announced that the park would close permanently on 28 January 2026, and its assets (including heritage items, machinery and locomotives) would be auctioned on May 1, 2 & 3 by Oily Rag Auctions. This marked the end of an era for what many saw as one of the last living heritage theme parks of its kind in New South Wales — a place where history was not only displayed but experienced.
Auction Listings are expected to be able to be viewed in April. The auction itself will be help at the start of May.
