Wilsons Auctions is celebrating a major milestone in 2026 as the family-run business marks 90 years of auctioneering excellence.
Founded in 1936 by William Wilson — a tractor salesman, farmer and butcher — the company began life auctioning tractors at Hydepark in Mallusk, Northern Ireland. What started as a local venture has since grown into one of the largest independent auction groups across the UK and Ireland.
The anniversary marks nine decades of growth, innovation and expansion, with the company paying tribute to the loyalty and support of its customers throughout its history.
“We’re immensely proud of what we’ve built together and look forward to celebrating this landmark year with our customers,” the company said as part of its anniversary celebrations.
The business entered a new era in 1967 when Ian Wilson, son of founder William Wilson, joined the company at the age of 16 before officially taking over the auction business in 1976.
Expansion accelerated throughout the following decades. In 1987, Wilsons Auctions launched its second site in Portadown, County Armagh, while also pioneering Northern Ireland’s first-ever online auction platform.
By the 1990s, the company had established a new purpose-built headquarters in Mallusk, Belfast, while further growth saw operations expand into Scotland with the opening of a Glasgow branch led by Gareth Wilson at the age of 18.
The turn of the millennium marked significant international growth. In 2000, the business expanded into the Republic of Ireland under the management of Ricky Wilson, while also acquiring sites in Newcastle and Maidstone, Kent.
Further acquisitions followed in England and Wales, including Telford Motor Auctions and Queensferry Motor Auctions in 2007, Newport Auctions in 2017, and West Oxfordshire Motor Auction Ltd in 2021 — bringing the total number of auction branches to 11.
Wilsons Auctions has also become recognised for innovation within the auction industry. In 2016, the company made history by conducting the world’s first cryptocurrency auction by a private auction company.
In recent years, the business has continued to invest heavily in infrastructure and technology. Major upgrades to preparation and inspection facilities began across all branches in 2022, while a £10 million investment in The John Summer Clock Tower development at Shotton Point commenced in 2023 and was completed in 2025.
The company also launched GAVEL in 2025 — a new state-of-the-art auction management system designed to transform auction operations across the group.
As Wilsons Auctions enters its 90th year, the company says it remains focused on innovation, growth and continuing the family legacy that began in Mallusk almost a century ago.
