Why Australians would do anything to own this one license plate that ended up selling for $7.5 million
Published on Jun 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jun 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Henry Kelsall
Some people in Australia would do anything to own this license plate that ended up selling for $7.5 million.
License plates are an interesting topic, as some can sell for crazy amounts depending on what they say.
For instance, a plate went up for sale in Australia near the end of 2023, which hadn’t been available for 110 years, making it a rare occasion and an interesting opportunity.
Incredibly, this particular license plate sold for a truly crazy amount of money, making it one of the most expensive in the world.
DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars
The license plate in question is NSW 1, and it is the most sought-after Heritage Plate in the whole of Australia.
It has a rich history, dating back to 1910 when the plate was initially used by the New South Wales State Police commissioner.
Ownership was transferred in the 1930s when it was passed down to businessman and politician Sir Frederick Stewart.
Stewart was a UK-born railwayman who would later become a bus company owner.
The businessman was also the founding chairman of Australian National Airways.
Stewart himself passed away in 1961, but the family retained the use of the plate.
In 1988, an offer of around $200,000 was reportedly turned down by his widow, Lady Marjorie Stewart.
At that point, it seemed as though the plate would never be used by anyone ever again.
However, at the end of 2023, it did indeed come up for sale.
This made it the first time in 110 years that the plate had officially hit the market.
It was also the first time since 1930 that another name would be associated with the plate.
At the closing of the auction, the plate sold for AUD$12.4 million, or around US$7.5 million.
Heritage license plates are a hot commodity in Australia, as they are in the rest of the world.
The F1 license plate pictured above is worth over $12 million.
The Queensland State license plate Q1 was also sold in 2024 for a crazy amount of money.
It fetched AUD$5.65 million, or around $3.69 million in US dollars.
They may only have a few letters and numbers, but to some, license plates are priceless.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
