By Property Journalist

The Australian property market is officially shaking off the holiday cobwebs, marking a decisive end to the summer quiet period. After a slow start to the year, auction activity is emerging from its seasonal slump with a sharp increase in volume across the major capitals.

Data released by Cotality for the week ending 1 February 2026 indicates a robust return to business for real estate agents and vendors alike. We expect to see a significant rise in auction activity this week, with 1,630 capital city homes currently scheduled for auction. This figure represents a dramatic shift in momentum, rising from a combined total of just 483 auctions held over the past four weeks.

The current surge also suggests a stronger market appetite compared to historical data. When viewed against the same week last year, when 1,390 auctions were held across the combined capitals, the current schedule shows a healthy increase in inventory.

Melbourne and Sydney Lead the Revival

As is often the case, the major southern capitals are driving the bulk of the volume. Melbourne is set to be the busiest auction market this week, with 614 homes scheduled to go under the hammer. This activity marks a substantial pivot for the Victorian capital; just 187 homes have been taken to auction across the city so far this year, with 123 of those taking place only last week. The current figures also outperform the previous year, as Melbourne is up from the 483 auctions held this time last year.

Sydney is mirroring this upward trajectory. The number of Sydney auctions is set to rise significantly this week, with 494 homes currently scheduled for auction. This is a massive rebound from the quiet holiday period, up from a total of just 68 auctions over the past four weeks. Year-on-year consistency is also visible, with current numbers exceeding the 453 homes auctioned across Sydney this time last year.

Brisbane Records Massive Annual Growth

While the larger cities dominate in raw numbers, the smaller capitals are showing interesting trends, particularly in Queensland. Across the smaller capitals, Brisbane (223) is expecting the largest annual change in weekly auction volume. The city’s scheduled auctions are up 37.7% compared to the same week last year, when 162 homes were auctioned.

Elsewhere, Adelaide is set to host 153 auctions this week, holding steady compared to the 150 hosted one year ago. Canberra continues to see moderate growth, with 137 scheduled numbers, up 4.6% compared to last year’s 131. In contrast, the market remains tighter in the west and south; Perth is scheduled to host eight auctions this week, down from 11 this time last year, while just one home is set to go under the hammer across Tasmania.

The Weeks Ahead

While this week represents a significant “opening of the gates” for the 2026 auction season, vendors and buyers should anticipate some fluctuation. An early view of auction numbers over the coming weeks suggests we could see a slight dip in numbers next week before ramping up the following week.