More than 2000 unclaimed items, from laptops and luxury watches to hairdryers, gaming consoles and even a vacuum cleaner, are going under the hammer this week as Sydney Airport kicks off its popular annual Lost Property Auction.

Bidding starts from just $10, but the impact will stretch far beyond bargain hunters. All proceeds from the 2025 auction will fund free swimming lessons and water safety programs for local families doing it tough.

“This auction is more than just a chance to score a great find — it’s about giving back to our local community,” said Sydney Airport’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Josh Clements.

Sydney Airport has already donated $100,000 to launch the program, equivalent to 4,000 swimming lessons. It’s now aiming to raise an additional $200,000 through the online auction, which would fund another 8,000 lessons for children and families in the surrounding area.

The initiative comes amid rising concerns about drowning risks and access to water safety education. Research from the Royal Life Saving Society shows that almost half of Year 6 students in Australia can’t swim 50 metres, and one in ten kids aged 5 to 14 have never had a formal swimming lesson.

“It’s brilliant to see Sydney Airport turning lost property into little swimmers,” said Louise Smalley, Health Promotions Manager at the Royal Life Saving Society. “This program aims to close the gap and help build safer communities around the airport.”

What’s up for grabs?

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The online auction, run by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, includes a surprisingly broad (and occasionally quirky) mix of items left behind at the terminals in 2024. Everything from tech gear and jewellery to musical instruments and kitchen appliances.

Among the standout items:

• 250 laptops

• 60 Kindles

• 40 gaming consoles

• 250 pieces of jewellery and watches

• A violin and electric keyboard

• A vacuum cleaner, a frying pan and an air fryer

• Boxed Lego sets

• A 90cm-tall plush teddy bear

“This year we’ve got a great mix,” said auction director Casi Prischl. “People log in from all over Australia — not just for the bargains, but because it supports something meaningful.”

Each category closes at a different time between 9 and 12 June, starting with tech and gaming, then rolling through clothes, watches, accessories and more. You can find all the lots for the Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction on the Theodore Bruce website. Here are the links and closing times you need to know:

• Tech & Gaming | closing 9 June at 11am
• Jewellery & Watches | closing 10 June at 11am
• Clothes & Shoes | closing 11 June at 11am
• Sunglasses, Bags & Accessories | closing 11 June at 2pm
• Beauty, Alcohol & Home | closing 12 June at 11am

More than just bargains

Since launching in 2013, Sydney Airport’s lost property auctions have raised more than $1.9 million for charity and community programs. This year’s proceeds will go to the Inner West Aquatics team, which will deliver the swimming lessons in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society.

The airport also noted that while it returned over 7000 lost items in 2024, many remained unclaimed and were either donated to charity or saved for auction. Checked baggage is excluded, and passengers seeking lost luggage are advised to contact their airline directly.

“For every $25 raised, another child gets a free swimming lesson,” Clements said.

“It’s a small act that can make a life-saving difference.”