Mischa Barton pictured filming Neighbours in May 2023. Picture: Supplied/Channel 10
While homes on Australia’s most famous cul-de-sac have sparked fierce global bidding wars, the latest piece of Neighbours history to hit the auction block isn’t bricks and mortar – it’s a notoriously unflattering portrait of Ramsay Street’s legendary busybody, Mrs Mangel.
Dementia Australia has opened online bidding from $750 for the one-of-a-kind prop from the long-running TV series, painted by fellow street matriarch Helen Daniels and signed by 14 cast members including Neighbours royalty Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburne, and Rebekah Elmaloglou.
The portrait of Mrs Mangel is on the auction block
The beloved set piece, which hung around long after Mrs Mangel’s departure, was donated by actor Annie Jones, who played Mangel’s granddaughter, Jane Harris.
The charity’s executive director of engagement and research, Dr Kaele Stokes, said the quirky artwork had been a fan favourite since the 1980s.
“Now, fans can own an iconic piece of the show’s history while helping to support families impacted by dementia, which is the leading cause of death in Australia,” Dr Stokes said.
The portrait offers die-hard fans an entry point into television real estate lore for a fraction of the deposit required to own one of the actual homes on Pin Oak Ct, the real-life set of Ramsay St.
The back of the portrait was signed by 14 cast members of the final episode of Neighbours
The six unassuming houses of the famed Melbourne cul-de-sac cultivated their own multi-million-dollar real estate market over the show’s decades-long run, becoming an international tourist mecca for busloads of UK backpackers.
Living there came with unique perks: homeowners were paid an annual fee by production company Fremantle and the street benefited from 24-hour security.
In exchange, residents were forbidden from changing their facades or front landscaping to maintain on-screen continuity.
In May 2021, the street record was shattered when 1 Pin Oak Ct — otherwise known as the home of Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi — sold at auction for $1.6m.
The show’s cast pictured in 1987
In 2019, a UK-born fan paid $1.405m for number 5 (the on-screen residence of Dr Karl and Susan Kennedy), while number 3 was snapped up for $867,000 in 2013, also by a British expat.
Nell Mangel, played by Vivean Gray, lived at 32 Ramsay St, where her constant window-snooping and strict moral judgments made her a legendary fixture of the street.
Actor Annie Jones, whose mother lived with dementia, said she was thrilled to share the rare piece of TV history while making a difference to the 446,500 Australians living with dementia.
“Supporting people living with dementia, their families and carers is something I care deeply about,” Jones said.
Auctioneer Barry Plant took 3 Pin Oak Ct to auction
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An authenticity letter by Neighbours producer Andrew Thompson states the portrait is one of only two replica copies produced, and the only one signed by final-episode cast members.
The soapie ran for 37 years and was rebooted by Amazon in 2022.
The sale includes the framed portrait, Mr Thompson’s letter, and a statement of authenticity from Jones.
The eBay auction runs until 9am on May 4. Proceeds will go towards Dementia Australia’s support services. Bids can be placed at https://ebay.us/m/qsZduR.
If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.
(l-r) Stefan Dennis, Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher and Annie Jones on set in the last weeks of Australian soap opera Neighbours in July 2025. Picture: FremantleMedia/Supplied
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