GOODNESS GRACIOUS, JOH’S LOT IS ON THE BLOCK

THE rich, historic treasures owned by former premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and his wife Flo are up for auction – and there’s massive interest, don’t you worry about that.

Staff at Lloyds Auctions on the Gold Coast, who organised to display the family’s memorabilia at their Carrara office, are receiving calls from throughout Australia.

Many items are either gifts or work accessories kept from Sir Joh’s 19-year reign as premier. The family, in a statement, believed the timing was right. Sir Joh died in April 2005. Lady Flo was 97 when she died in December 2017. “We are sure those who acquire items from this collection will honour and treasure them as much as our whole family has,” the statement said,

The auction will feature Sir Joh’s personal desk and his briefcase used daily as premier, hand-signed campaign posters and his 1982 Jaguar Saloon.

Collectors will be able to perfect Lady Flo’s famous pumpkin scone recipe, which is inscribed on a ceramic soup spoon.

Lloyds Auctions chief of operations Lee Hames nominates a 1969 handsigned post-moon-landing world tour luncheon schedule as one of the headline pieces. Signatures include Neil Armstrong,

Buzz Aldrin and then prime minister John Gorton.

The auction features oil paintings of Sir Joh by Archibald Prize winner William Dargie and by Pro Hart. Sir Joh’s signed memoir, Don’t You Worry About That, is expected to fetch more than $500, and his desk more than $2100. His leather briefcase is valued at $2100. Bidding online will continue for the next four days.