Australia's auction market felt the full force of the long weekend in four of the eight states and territories, with volume halved in combined capital cities data for the week ending March 8.

CoreLogic's market wrap indicates 1,456 auctions were held across the week, in comparison with 3,026 from the week before. 

The lower volumes allowed the preliminary clearance rate to climb up to 74.8 per cent this week, up from last week's final rate of 73.9 per cent last week.

Over the same week last year, the clearance rate was recorded at a much lower 47.8 per cent.

CoreLogic analyst Kevin Brogan told WILLIAMS MEDIA while it was difficult to take too much out of the figures, the market was still showing some of the strength it had displayed throughout February.

"In Sydney, where there was no public holiday, it was very much business as usual," he said.

"Of the areas where there is a public holiday, it can be easy to establish how many buyers don't list because it is a long weekend, but it's a little harder to quantify the number of people on the buying side who don't participate."

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Source: CoreLogic

Sydney

In Sydney, 811 homes were taken to auction returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 82.6 per cent, up on last week’s final clearance rate of 76.6 per cent across a higher 1,087 auctions.

Ray White NSW Chief Auctioneer Alex Pattaro said there was an increased number of families transacting within the same markets across parts of Sydney.

“We are continuing to see an increased number of competition across all properties throughout all of Sydney," he said.

Melbourne

The long weekend led to a drop in volume and clearance rate for Melbourne, which had 68.6 per cent of its 404 auctions reported as successful.

This is down significantly from last week’s final result of 74.8 per cent across 1,612 auctions.

Preliminary data from the Ray White group indicated there had been an increase in the percentage of properties that sold prior to auction for the week.

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Source: CoreLogic

Brisbane and smaller markets

Data from CoreLogic indicates Canberra came in with a 66.7 per cent success rate last week, making it the highest preliminary result outside of Sydney and Melbourne.

It was followed by Adelaide (63.8 per cent), Perth (58.3 per cent) and Brisbane (53.2 per cent). 

Queensland's Apollo Auctions recorded an average attendance of 24.7 people and an overall clearance rate of 68 per cent from its auctions. 

Chief Auctioneer Justin Nickerson said solid registration numbers were found in all locations and types of properties this week.

"As listings continue to be thin on the ground, the recent strong run shows no sign of slowing as we approach the run towards the Easter break," he said.

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