What are New South Wales Heritage Plates?

NSW heritage plates are the original number plates of New South Wales. When vehicle registration became compulsory in January 1910, the State issued numeral-only plates in strict sequence from 1, reaching almost 274,000 before the series closed in 1937.

Made in vitreous enamel and carrying numerals alone, the early plates went to the State’s first motorists, among them public officials, business leaders and established families. NSW 1 was first fitted to the official car of the State’s first Police Commissioner, and later passed to the entrepreneur Sir Frederick Stewart. Plate 10 has remained with the head of the NSW Fire Brigades since 1910. Provenance of this kind is what sets the category apart.

Today, NSW numeral-only plates are among Australia’s most sought-after motoring collectibles. They are managed by Transport for NSW and can be acquired only at its auctions or by private sale, and many have stayed within the same family for generations. In 2024, NSW 1 sold at auction for more than $11.5 million, an Australian record.

Heritage Only presents NSW heritage plates in association with Transport for NSW, through curated live auctions and private sales, protecting the provenance and standing of every plate that passes through the room.