Just days after its sale to Slattery Auctions, the embattled Grays Online auction platform has entered administration.
Online eCommerce platform, Grays Onine, has been placed into administration, following its $2 million sale to rival, Slattery Auctions.
Grays describes itself as Australia’s largest industrial, auto and commercial eCommerce business in Australasia, having originally commenced operation in 1922.
In July 2025 the Federal Court issued a $10 million fine to Grays Online, and ordered the organisation to compensate hundreds of buyers misled by deceptive advertising.
The court found that between July 2020 and June 2022 the company has misrepresented the make, model, or features of at least 750 vehicles sold through the online platform, and omitted to disclose “obvious faults”.
The sale to Slattery Auctions and the following administration now calls into question whether the handover was a move to avoid the penalty.
The move administration also potentially affects the $115 million owed by Grays Online’s former owner, Quadrant Private Equity, to Westpac Bank.
The confirmation of administration proceedings was confirmed on October 3rd, by McGrathNicol executive chair and partner, Jason Preston.
Preston confirmed that McGrathNicol had been appointed Joint and Several Voluntary Administrators of the Grays group, responsible for the assets and operations of the auction platform.
“We will work closely with Grays employees, customers, financiers and other stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome for all parties,” Preston said.
A newly-added page Help Centre Page, on the Grays Online website says that the auction house will continue to operate as normal for the time being.
“Grays entered Voluntary Administration on Friday, 3 October 2025. We’re continuing to trade as normal — orders, deliveries, returns and support are unaffected,” the brief statement says.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
