An Australian auction site has been named the world’s best at the Interactive Media Council (IMC)’s Interactive Media Awards.

Taking top spot in the Best In Class category, Limbo Auction, which was established in 2006, is now one of Australia’s leading reverse auction websites with more than 66,000 visitors each month, says the company.

The awards recognise international excellence in website design and development, and the judging panel which included representatives from the New York Times, Time Warner, McCann Erickson Worldwide and Microsoft.

Developed by Sunshine Coast-based web and mobile entertainment company 3Style Media, Limbo Auction gives members the opportunity to secure a range of items (including cars, home cinemas, TVs, holidays, personal electronics, fashion and white goods) for a “fraction” of their retail value, says the company.

3Style Media CEO, Matt Forman, said that being named as the world’s best auction site showed that local IT expertise was as good as anywhere in the world.

“We are extremely proud that an emerging Queensland-based company has received international recognition for our work,” he said.

“We put an enormous amount of effort into the design and development of the Limbo Auction website and its success is shown not only by the award win, but more importantly by the growing number of people who regularly use the site.

“The reverse auction concept is booming in Australia and our objective is to remain the leading website in this space. Since March 2007, our membership base has grown 1,800%. 

“So far we have had more than 120,000 Australians bid for $195,000 worth of items that have sold for just $705,” he said.