Considering moving your family to Australia for a new, “down under” lifestyle? The time has never been better. As we specialise in removals to Australia, we can help you to get the best start in your new home.

Moving to Australia offers individuals and families countless benefits: a great climate, scenic beaches, modern conveniences and great employment and cultural opportunities.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed lifestyle whilst still enjoying all of the conveniences of modern living, Australia should be at the top of your list. Its population centres contain both beautiful architecture and rival the cultural benefits of any other large city in the world.

If you’re an organised sports fan, you’ll find a nice home in Australia. The Aussies of course love “Australian Rules Football,” as well as Cricket and Rugby. The sporting lifestyle is a great way to socialise and meet new people.

The Australian job market remains one of the strongest in the world. As of 2009, the unemployment rate was only 5.9%, as reported (Australia Labour Statistics) and looks to remain strong for the foreseeable future.

Australia’s primary industries are agriculture, mining, and commodities. The vastly unexplored regions of the outback are home to many of the world’s largest mining operations.

Another strong opportunity for employment is Australia’s growing services sector, with many professional areas in high demand. This demand has led many professionals (doctors, surgeons, dentists, nurses etc.) to move to Australia for high paying jobs with employment security.

Considering starting a family after relocating to Australia? The government allows for a “Baby Bonus,” which pays $5185 AUD for each child (paid in instalments) once the child is born. Once becoming a permanent resident, you may also qualify for the “Family Tax Benefit,” an income-based payment to help defer the cost of raising children.

Another advantage to moving to Australia is the government’s “First Home Owner’s Grant” (FHOG). As both a resident and first time home buyer, eligible applicants are eligible for a one-time payment of up to $7,000. This can be applied either as a deposit, or as part of the homeowner’s loan.

Any article on relocating to Australia would be remiss without mentioning perhaps its most famous and beautiful natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef. Located in Queensland (also referred to as the “Sunshine State”), the reef attracts visitors from all over the globe. Spend your holiday here, or at any of the many other national parks. Walk through rainforests, lounge on the pristine beaches, and dive and explore the world’s most beautiful reef.

With abundant natural beauty and climate, a relaxed and modern culture, great employment opportunities, and breath-taking natural wonders, it’s no wonder moving to Australia from the UK is so popular.

As one of the most well established and prestigious international moving companies in the UK, we have been moving individuals and families nationally and internationally since 1884 and currently facilitate thousands of overseas removals  every year.

Please see below for transit times, guideline prices and customs requirements for your move to Australia.

Shipping to Australia transit times

Exclusive Use / Full Container Load (FCL) Service: If you are shipping your belongings in your own exclusive use container (known as a Full Container Load [FCL] service), the transit time is approximately between 8-10 weeks door to door. The FCL option is recommended for a full house removal. This allows you to have sole exclusive use of a 20ft or a 40ft steel shipping container. As a rough guide, the contents of a three bedroom house usually fit into a 20ft container.

Shared Container / Groupage Service: If you have less than a full container load, you can ship your belongings to Australia using our groupage service. This is essentially a shared container service. If you aren’t shipping enough to fill a 20ft container, you can split the cost with other consignments. This is a cheaper option for many people who do not want to ship their whole house or are trying to keep the costs down for their move. The approximate transit time for a shared container / groupage service is between 10 and 12 weeks door to door depending on the destination in Australia.

Please bear in mind that the above transit times are approximate guidelines only, actual transit times depend on the shipping line, sailing times and shipping routes available.

Guideline pricing for shipments to Australia

It is generally cheaper to ship than to replace. You can get an estimate of the cost of shipping your household items to Australia by using the Move System, John Mason International’s Instant Online Quote generator. The Move System allows you to compare the cost of shipping items compared to replacing the furniture and household effects upon your arrival overseas.

To obtain a quote for your move to Australia, follow the link above (top right hand corner of the page) to our Move System. You can also contact us to arrange a free home survey to obtain an official quote for your relocation to Australia.

Customs and Quarantine Requirements when shipping to Australia

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) have very strict regulations concerning the importation of food and plant and animal materials into Australia. This is to prevent pests and diseases from entering the country in order to protect the natural environment of Australia. Your shipment may be delayed if you include such items in your consignment and items may be seized and destroyed by AQIS. Items which have been in contact with soil are also subject to strict regulations. In order to remove all traces of dirt and soil, the following items must be cleaned and disinfected: