Famous Austrian biologist, filmmaker and diving technology pioneer Hans Haas (1919-2013) – and his Viennese firm Akustiche und Kinogerate – was front and centre at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions cameras and photographic equipment two-day auction October 29 and 30 when his c1954 underwater housing for Leica was sold with a c19555 red-dial Leica 1f camera (lot 863) for $5500.

Melbourne-based Philips Auctions fine and decorative arts auction  ending from 9.30am Monday October 28, could be the ideal solution for those looking for an extra special item. The auction offers a broad range of items which would make splendid Christmas gifts such as the George VI sterling silver bachelor tea and coffee set (lot 156) and a Rene Lalique ‘Rampillon’ opalescent glass vase (lot 207), or the Meissen silver clad hot chocolate pot (lot 227), Meissen porcelain coffee port (lot 226) or Dresden porcelain Helena Wolfsohn chocolate cup and saucer (lot 222).

The scene depicted was largely destroyed in the Great Port Adelaide Fire of November 1857 in a blaze covering several acres that wiped out half the area and almost its entire commercial district including three hotels, 12 shops, one bank, 16 cottages, two stables and several outbuildings. Frank was the son of William Hankey (1807-1872), a scion of the Hankey mercantile and banking dynasty in London, and arrived in Adelaide on board the Madras on January 11, 1855 with Samuel Francis White, a principal of their families joint London mercantile firm Dauglish, White & Hankey – which possessed interests in Australian mining and communications and large commercial interests in the colony. By the mid-1860s, Frank had settled in Sydney where he served several lengthy jail terms for forgery, despite inheriting princely sums from his father’s estate – engendered largely by his love of expensive living.