Australia is a leading destination for emigration and thousands of Britons are relocating there every single year. If you are considering moving Down Under, you’ll probably want to know how best to transport your belongings.
There will be certain belongings that you sell before relocating to reduce the moving costs. Often or not you can buy new items in Australia upon arrival. But there will be some possessions which you will want to keep, that hold a special significance to you.
Do you have a cherished piece of furniture which you inherited from a deceased family member? Do you own some valuable antiques which you want to keep as investment? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this guide is for you.
So what is the best way to ship furniture to Australia?
All consignments are unloaded from the shipping container on arrival. It is not possible for the shipping container that is loaded in the UK to be placed at the delivery address in Australia. All household goods and subject to a physical examination by the Australia Quarantine Inspection Services (AQIS) and they can hold things for up to 14 working days.
- Sea Freight
Sea freight really is the best mode of shipment. The internal height of most shipping containers is around 8ft, so tall items like a wardrobe can stand upright and the contents will barely move.
The average price of moving from the UK to Australia is £4,000- £5,000 excluding insurance. This is based on a 20ft container which roughly fits all the contents of a 3-bedroom house, (assuming it cleared customs and was delivered to residence, unpacked and unwrapped).
- Time duration
The time it will take to ship your furniture to Australia differs. For a Full Container Load, you can expect a door-to-door transit time of 6-8 weeks. A Shared Container Shipment – known as groupage – will be cheaper but it will take longer, 10-12 weeks door-to-door.
- Protection
You really do need to protect your furniture from damage that may occur during transit. No matter how safe a shipping firm is; accidents can happen. You can safeguard your items with expert packing techniques and delivery inspection.
Robinsons are members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) which means we maintain high standards of facilities, equipment, staff training and operational procedures.
- Labelling
Labelling is the best way to prepare and pack your furniture. Label each carton and every single item in a detailed inventory. By doing so, you minimise the chances of anything getting lost.
So now you know the best way to move your furniture, check out our specialist shipping services page to request a quotation.