Almost 300 items from the great Australian diva’s estate for sale in first ever auction.

The original opera diva, Dame Nellie Melba, was the most famous woman in the world at the peak of her career in the early 1900s. With her face immortalised on the $100 note, Melba, who died in 1931, is a national Australian treasure. Now, 84 years after her death, the legendary lyric soprano’s own treasures are about to go under the hammer.

Sotheby’s Australia are holding the first ever auction of Melba’s possessions at its Melbourne auction house this evening, appropriately near the opera superstars home, Coombe Cottage near Lilydale. 299 items belonging to Melba have been transported from the Melbourne Bank vault where they have been stored for more than 50 years, to be prepared for the sale. Until now the collection of items belonged to Melba’s sole surviving grandchild, who passed away last year. Since all Melba’s remaining living relatives now live overseas the family decided the time was right to release the many stunning curiosities, accessories, artworks and personal items for sale. Lots range from estimated prices of just a few hundred dollars up to in excess of $50,000.

Items up for sale, many of which have never been on public display before, include the diva’s fine “objets de vertu”, such as ornate hatpins, a diamond and enamel cigarette case, an ivory flyswat, a Cartier handbag and a solid gold paperweight, and also items of furniture including a large silver galleon wine caddy and Melba’s tortoiseshell writing box with her distinctive signature inlaid. There are also a number of art works owned by the singer appearing in the auction. These include two highly valued paintings by Arthur Streeton, who was a close personal friend of Melba, as well as several works by female artists including Thea Proctor, Maragert Preston, Hilda Rix Nicholas, Nora Heysen and Ida Rentoul Outhwaite – a poetic example of how Melba championed the work of women in the arts. Many of the items are of exceptionally well documented provenance, with detailed connections to the famous artist’s ownership adding further value.

While it is expected that the majority of lots will go to private collectors and Melba aficionados, some of the more sentimentally personal items from the estate, such as the singer’s scrapbooks, have been reserved for the Coombe Cottage Melba museum.

The Dame Nellie Melba Collection will be sold by Sotheby’s Australia on 31 March at 6pm at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Collins Street, Melbourne.