A rare piece of Australian cricket history was auctioned in Melbourne.

It was the bat used by Sir Don Bradman in one of his last first class innings in Australia.

It sold for $61,000, well above the anticipated $20,000.

Bradman compiled 115 runs with the bat against Western Australia in 1948.

Shortly after he travelled to England with the Australian team that became known as 'The Invincibles'.

They won that Ashes series in a whitewash.

The bat was signed by Sir Don and his teammates.

Some of them include Lindsay Hassett, Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller.

The bat was exhibited at the WACA Museum from 1984 to 2004.

It is mounted in a wooden display case with a handle at the top to allow it to be rotated.