Pickles Auctions is once again supporting the construction and earthmoving sector as a sponsor of the Diesel Dirt and Turf Expo in Sydney this week, continuing a long-standing presence at one of the industry’s most hands-on events.
For a business built on asset remarketing, the event provides a rare opportunity to combine traditional auction activity with modern digital reach, while reinforcing relationships with customers across local government, contractors, and plant operators.
According to Bruce Connors, Director Industrial at Pickles, the in-person auction format held during the event remains something of an exception in today’s market.
“They are very rare these days. Every, literally, every other auction that we do now is an online auction or a single cast auction,” Connors explained.
That blend of physical presence and digital capability reflects the way the auction sector has evolved. While the event retains a traditional feel, bidders can still participate remotely through live streaming and online platforms, expanding access beyond those attending the showground.
“We live stream it back into everyone’s phones, iPads, computers, etc. So we get bidding in person and online through the sale,” he said.
Supporting the industry, not just selling equipment
Pickles’ involvement at Diesel Dirt and Turf extends beyond commercial activity. Connors described the sponsorship as part of a broader commitment to supporting the sectors the company works with every day.
“Part of what we’re doing is we like to give back where we can, and it’s giving back to the industry and the OEMs as part of what they’re doing there, in order to bring people to the show,” he said.
The event itself has developed into a hybrid of industry showcase and community gathering, attracting contractors, councils, and families alike. That mix is part of its enduring appeal, particularly in a sector where purchasing decisions often involve seeing machinery up close and discussing applications face to face.
Connors noted the atmosphere is deliberately inclusive.
“There’ll be plenty of kids that’ll come along to look at big Tonka Toys… and it allows the families to go along and have a look at the equipment that they might be looking at purchasing in the future,” he said.
A showcase for used equipment demand
While Diesel Dirt and Turf is best known as a display of new machinery and technology, the event also provides insight into the health of the used equipment market—an area closely watched by Fleet Managers and contractors managing capital budgets.
Connors said supply levels remain steady in early 2026, with pricing holding firm despite broader economic pressures.
“There is reasonable supply, good supply there, and the prices are good,” he said, noting that fuel costs remain a key concern across construction, transport, and agriculture.
The stability of late-model equipment values reflects a shift in buyer behaviour, particularly as operators weigh operating costs against replacement timing.
“Anything that’s late model, low kilometre, is still going to bring good money… because it saves people reaching that little bit further and buying new equipment,” Connors said.
For councils and contractors attending the show, that dynamic reinforces the role of auctions as both a disposal channel and a procurement option—particularly when budgets are tight or delivery times for new equipment remain uncertain.
A construction industry equivalent to the truck show
Within the construction and civil works sector, Diesel Dirt and Turf has become a benchmark event, often compared to the Brisbane Truck Show in scale and relevance.
Connors sees the comparison as appropriate.
“I would say it’s very close to it… from a construction point of view, it’s very similar to what goes on in Brisbane,” he said.
That positioning explains why the event continues to attract strong participation from equipment suppliers, councils, and contractors across New South Wales and beyond. It also highlights the importance of industry gatherings at a time when digital channels dominate routine transactions but cannot fully replace in-person engagement.
Looking ahead
For Pickles, the value of sponsoring Diesel Dirt and Turf lies less in short-term sales and more in maintaining visibility and relationships within the sectors that rely on heavy equipment every day.
The event provides a practical setting to demonstrate equipment, discuss asset strategies, and monitor market sentiment—particularly as fuel costs, freight demand, and economic conditions continue to influence fleet decisions.
In that sense, the company’s presence reflects a broader industry reality: even in a highly digital market, there remains a place for face-to-face interaction, live auctions, and the opportunity to see machinery operating in real conditions.
