Surry Hills café and restaurant operators could snap up commercial catering equipment at bargain prices after more than 1,000 items were uncovered in a hidden Sydney basement storage site.
Lloyds Auctions says the underground find spans two full basement levels packed with commercial catering assets worth more than $1 million, including refrigeration units, ovens, benchtops and display cabinets.
With the owner of the basement requiring the space to be cleared immediately, all items will be sold through unreserved online auctions starting from $1.
“This is a sea of stainless steel as far as the eye can see, across two basement levels,” Lloyds Auctions Chief Operations Officer Lee Hames said.
“I have never seen anything of this scale in this industry. The volume of equipment uncovered in this basement is extraordinary.”
The clearance is expected to attract strong interest from hospitality operators, restaurateurs, caterers and resellers looking to secure commercial equipment at reduced prices.
“The opportunity for business owners in this industry to get ahead is very real as every single item will be going under the hammer with no reserve and starting at $1, meaning everything will be sold,” Mr Hames said.
The clearance includes a wide range of commercial refrigeration assets, ovens, benchtops, display cabinets and other catering equipment.
Given the scale of the find and ongoing cost pressures facing businesses, the auction house expects buyers from across southeast Australia to participate.
The auctions will be conducted online only, closing on Tuesday 19 May and Wednesday 20 May from 10:00 a.m., with bidding now open through Lloyds Auctions.
Published 18-May-2026
