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Figure 1: Weekly auction distribution showing Saturday's commanding 76.74% share of the market

Understanding when auctions occur across the Australian market is crucial for developing winning strategies. Analysis of auction timing from the first half of 2024 reveals a clear pattern - Saturday dominates the auction landscape.

With over three-quarters (76.74%) of all residential auctions occurring on Saturdays, mastering your Saturday auction strategy is crucial for success in the Australian property market. While mid-week auctions maintain a steady presence - particularly Wednesday and Thursday, which combine for 13% of volume - Saturday remains the dominant force in the auction landscape.

With Ray White the leading auctioneer in the country conducting nearly 1 in 4 of all auctions in 2024, our internal data provides unique insights into market dynamics and buyer behaviour. This substantial market presence across all regions allows us to identify patterns that can inform strategic auction timing decisions.

Within this Saturday-dominated market, timing becomes critical. Looking at how Saturday auctions are distributed throughout the day reveals distinct patterns across our major markets.

Figure 2: Whole market national and state-level auction volumes show distinct timing patterns, with significant variations in distribution across markets, with above showing the percentage of total weekly auctions conducted on a Saturday at the corresponding time.
*Figure 4: Active bidder participation at Ray White auctions shows surprising strength in off-peak times, particularly in certain state markets.

Nationally, the 10 am to noon window remains the most popular, capturing over 30% of all weekly auctions. However, this concentration creates an interesting dynamic: while these slots see the highest volume, they don't necessarily deliver the best performance metrics. The data shows consistent clearance rates of around 70% during these peak times. But interestingly, other time slots show comparable or better performance, perhaps due to the lower volumes of competing auctions.

Of particular interest is the 9 am slot, which nationally achieves a 70.1% clearance rate with only 4.36% of total weekly volume. This suggests that reduced auction competition might benefit both buyers and sellers while maintaining strong market participation.

*Figure 5: Saturday Participation rates (%) across Ray White auction time slots and markets.

An additional layer of insight comes from examining participation rates at Ray White auctions (calculated as registered bidders/active bidders), which help us understand buyer engagement across various times and states. The data reveals that while peak auction slots remain popular, the participation rates in less crowded time slots often match or exceed those in busier periods.

An analysis of participation rates reveals key trends in buyer engagement. Nationally, the peak morning period from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm shows the highest participation, aligning with high auction volumes. However, less crowded time slots, such as 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, maintain strong participation rates, offering potential opportunity depending on your location.

Participation patterns vary across states, with each market showing unique strengths at different times. While New South Wales displays steady engagement throughout the day, Victoria sees its strongest participation in the mid-morning but remains viable in the early afternoon. Queensland stands out for its robust late-day engagement, and South Australia consistently performs well across all time slots, even into the evening. These trends highlight the potential to adapt auction timings to align with regional behaviours and maximise outcomes.

State Market Insights

New South Wales: the balanced market

NSW presents perhaps the most balanced market nationally, with auction volumes spread more evenly throughout the day. The 9 am to 3 pm period consistently holds 9-12% of daily volume per hour, but with notable performance variations:

  • 9 am sees a 72.2% clearance rate with strong bidder engagement

  • Mid-morning peak maintains steady 68-69% clearance rates

  • 2 pm achieves 72.3% clearance rate despite lower volume

Victoria: high concentration market

Victoria shows the most concentrated market pattern:

  • 60% of weekly auctions occur between 10 am and 1 pm on a Saturday with 24% occurring at 11 am

  • High concentration creates potential opportunities in early afternoon slots where clearance rates hold steady but competition between auctions decreases

Queensland: the engagement leaders

Queensland's data reveals particularly interesting insights about buyer engagement:

  • Morning peak (10 am) shows 3.4 active bidders with 10.86% volume

  • Afternoon slots (3-4 pm) maintain similar engagement (3.3-3.4 bidders) with just 3.57-2.81% volume

  • Clearance rates improve in afternoon slots (68.6% vs 66.1%) This suggests potential benefits in spreading auctions across a wider time range.

South Australia: strong afternoon performance

SA demonstrates strong performance across both traditional and non-traditional times:

  • Consistent 79%+ clearance rates through morning sessions

  • Maintains strong bidder engagement in to afternoon slots

  • Shows resilience in performance metrics even as volumes decrease

Strategic Implications for 2025

1. The Early Advantage (9 am)

  • Benefits from fresh buyer energy

  • Less direct auction competition while maintaining strong buyer pools

  • Particularly effective in New South Wales market

2. The Afternoon Opportunity (2-3 pm)

  • Maintains buyer engagement while reducing auction competition

  • Shows surprisingly strong clearance rates in Queensland and New South Wales

  • Benefits from serious buyers who have already viewed morning auctions

Planning Your 2025 Strategy

Success in 2025 Saturday auctions could come from understanding these market dynamics and finding the sweet spot where volume and performance metrics align optimally for your specific market and property type. Key considerations should include:

  • Property type alignment: Match timing to your target buyer demographic and property type

  • Market-specific patterns: Consider your state's unique patterns of buyer behaviour and auction performance

  • Competition balance: Weigh the benefits of peak time visibility against reduced competition in off-peak slots

The data clearly shows that winning at auction isn't simply about choosing the most popular time - it's about finding the optimal balance between market activity and performance conditions for your specific circumstance alongside a well-run campaign. While peak times remain viable options, the H1 2024 data reveals potential opportunities for those willing to think strategically about their auction timing.

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