Buyer pays massive sum for 'hideous' but iconic Neighbours portrait

The hand-painted portrait of Neighbours character "Nell Mangel", painted by character "Helen Daniels", was at the centre of one of the soap's blow-ups.

Annie Jones, who played Mrs Mangel's on-screen daughter "Jane Harris", and whose mother lived with dementia, donated the painting to charity Dementia Australia to help the organisation raise funds.

After being listed with a starting price of $750, 104 bids were made on the painting over one week, with the final winner topping out the auction in the final seconds.

The painting sold for $19,500 to an unknown buyer.

In the final hours of the auction, a bidding war broke out with 41 separate offers pushing the item's value from $15,200 to $19,500 in less than three hours.

During the painting's first Neighbours appearance in 1987, Helen attempts to explain she had been inspired by Australian artist William Dobell's Portrait of an artist, which won the Archibald Prize in 1943.

"It's hideous! I've never been so insulted in my life," Mrs Mangel yelled during its on-screen unveiling.

Dobell's original painting also caused controversy, with two artists unsuccessfully suing Dobell and the gallery over the win, claiming the painting was not a portrait, but a "caricature".

After debuting on screen, the portrait lived on as a beloved set piece, and was eventually hung on the walls of various sets in Neighbours, including in Lassiters Hotel.

The painting would sometimes fall from the wall in the background of scenes, which was interpreted as busybody Mrs Mangel passing her judgment on characters, Dr Kaele Stokes, an executive director at Dementia Australia, told The Senior.

While the charity expected some interest from avid Neighbours fans, Dr Stokes said they had been surprised by the dozens of bids received just hours after listing the painting on eBay.

"We've been really fortunate with this one," Dr Stokes said.

"It was an opportunity that was too good to miss.

"Clearly, from the level of interest in the auction, there are still a lot of Neighbours nuts out there that are interested in owning this little piece of history."

The charity plans to use profits to support people with dementia and their families.

Mrs Mangel was portrayed by the late Vivean Gray, who was originally slated to appear for just three weeks. But Gray's performance as an uppity Erinsborough gossip proved so popular her storyline was extended over two years, from 1986 to 1988.

She appeared during the soap's peak in popularity, and starred alongside Kylie Minogue, who played "Charlene Robinson", her on-screen partner Jason Donovan, "Scott Robinson", and Anne Charleston, who played "Madge Bishop".

The portrait is the original prop from the 1987 episode, and is one of only two versions, which are believed to have been painted by one of the set designer's relatives.

A second painting was created as a stunt-double prop, to avoid the original being damaged in scenes where it fell from walls.

The back of the painting is also signed by 13 former Neighbours cast members, including Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne, who played "Dr Karl" and "Susan Kennedy", Stefan Dennis, who played "Paul Robinson", and Takaya Honda, who played "Dr David Tanaka", who is an ambassador for Dementia Australia.

The painting also comes with two authenticity letters from Neighbours producer Andrew Thompson, and Ms Jones.

"Supporting people living with dementia, their families and carers is something I care deeply about," Ms Jones said.

"I can't wait to see the reactions from fans and see where this beloved painting ends up going."

Honda said he was excited about the auction, which brought together his role on Neighbours and work as a Dementia Australia ambassador.

"I look forward to seeing how much we can raise in support of people living with dementia, their families and carers."