The Trevor & Kerry Hargreaves Collection – a remarkable multi-part auction, now entering its next chapter with Burns & Co

Some collections begin with a single item. For Trevor Hargreaves, it began in childhood.

An only child for many years, Trevor says his mother first encouraged him to collect cigarette packets. From there, the habit of collecting never really left him. Over decades, that early fascination grew into an extraordinary and deeply personal collection shaped by family, service, travel and memory.

Now, that lifetime of collecting is being brought to market through Burns & Co as The Trevor & Kerry Hargreaves Collection – a significant multi-part unreserved auction.

Parts 1 and 2 have already been successfully offered, following the full Burns & Co process of collecting, transporting, cataloguing and presenting the items for auction.

This week in Yarrawonga, the Burns & Co team returned to Trevor and Kerry’s property to begin the next stage – carefully loading the remaining items for Parts 3 and 4 onto trucks for transport back to our Bayswater facility.

Watch the full story of the Trevor & Kerry Hargreaves Collection below.

With a dedicated team onsite, the collection is being handled with meticulous care and attention to detail, as each item is carefully packed, secured and prepared for transport. From there, it will be returned to Bayswater where every piece will be individually catalogued, photographed and prepared for auction.

Watching the process unfold on site, it was clear that collections of this scale are not just built over a lifetime – they also require significant expertise and coordination behind the scenes to bring them to market properly.

And this is no ordinary collection.

Parts 1 and 2 featured an impressive selection of enamel and screen-print signs across a wide range of categories. The upcoming parts continue to reveal the depth of the Hargreaves collection, including vintage tools, blacksmith equipment, farming items, framed advertising, militaria and household pieces.

It is, as our team described it, very much “an old collection” – built over many years, with items you simply don’t see come to genuine public auction.

But what stood out most during our visit was that this collection is about far more than the items themselves.

Behind every piece is a story.

Trevor’s life has been shaped by country life, family, military service and community. Called up for Vietnam, he served during a defining chapter of his life and returned home with memories that remain an important part of his story today.

There is also a strong family thread running throughout. Trevor’s parents both served during the Second World War, and together Trevor and Kerry have built a life centred around family, hard work and years of travelling Australia – often stopping at antique stores and country towns along the way, adding one more piece to the collection.

For Kerry, that meant years of travelling alongside Trevor and making room for each new find. For Trevor, it meant building a collection that reflects a lifetime of experiences.

When the time came to sell, the decision was both practical and considered.

Rather than leaving a large collection for family to manage in the future, Trevor chose to pass it on now – allowing others to enjoy the pieces while also supporting his family through the proceeds.

As Burns & Co prepares Parts 3 and 4 for auction, the work continues behind the scenes – with every item handled, documented and presented with care to ensure it reaches the market in the best possible way.

Trevor said he would recommend Burns & Co to others considering consigning, describing the team as efficient, supportive and easy to deal with throughout the process. Kerry echoed that sentiment, highlighting the communication and professionalism shown along the way.

For Burns & Co, collections like Trevor and Kerry’s are what make this work meaningful.

Auctions are never just about what is sold – they are about people, histories and the trust involved in passing treasured items on to their next custodian.

The Trevor & Kerry Hargreaves Collection is exactly that: a lifetime of collecting, now moving into its next chapter.

If you are considering selling a collection, downsizing an estate, or simply want to understand what your items may be worth, the Burns & Co team can guide you through the process with care, experience and national reach.

Ashley Burns  – 0408 618 294