1st Move International are here to help with your international removals to Melbourne. Offering weekly guaranteed shipping, a personal move manager and 24/7 live tracking of your shipment, we are always the first choice.
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The capital of Victoria attracts thousands of Brits each year seeking better employment opportunities, quality of life and its unmatched culture and lifestyle. In 2023, just over 10% of our removals to Australia relocated to Melbourne.
With over 25 years of experience in overseas removals, we’re at the forefront of the industry. Our unique packing techniques are designed with you in mind for a faster and safer move. Complete our quick and easy form to get a free, tailored quote for your removals to Melbourne.
What's on this page?
International removal costs from the UK to Melbourne start at £699 for a small move (shared container) and from £3,599 for larger moves (20ft container). These prices are just a rough guideline and will depend on the volume and destination of your move.
| Move Type | Shipment Size | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Move / Essentials | Part Load | £699 to £893 |
| 1-Bed House / Flat | Shared Container | £1,035 to £1,361 |
| 2-Bed House | Shared Container | £1,817 to £2,209 |
| 3-Bed House | 20ft Container | £3,599 to £4,006 |
| 4-Bed House | 40ft Container | £5,273 to £6,049 |
Prices shown are port to port freight costs and do not include UK collection or packing costs.
For a tailored and accurate quote for your removals to Melbourne, request a quick free quote, or give us a call on 0117 9828 123.
Our unique business model gives you a fast, safe and smart overseas moving experience.
The easiest way to ship your items to Melbourne from the UK is via sea freight. Choose between Shared Container or Full Container shipping for your international removals to Melbourne.
This type of shipping is best suited for those moving a small number of items, such as the contents of a 2-3 bedroom home. You will share a container with other customers and only pay for what you use. Our shrink-fast packing method means we can ship your items alongside commercial goods, guaranteeing weekly shipping from the UK to Melbourne.
Full Container Shipping gives you sole use of a 20ft or 40ft container. Only your items will be in that container, minimising handling of your goods. FCL is ideal for people moving a large volume or items, such as the contents of a 3+ bedroom home. Your container can either be loaded at your home (subject to access) or your belongings can be collected, professionally packed and loaded back at our warehouse.
Our one-of-a-kind shrink-fast packing method guarantees the safety of your personal belongings. We are the only removal company to pack this way, shipping your items door-to-door.
Make the most of extra benefits that come with 1st Move International’s service:
Find out what our Melbourne movers have to say about our service.
A Hopkins
London to Melbourne, AustraliaGreat service and communication. Everything went to plan. Even recommended a great receiver and broker on the receiving side who was equally excellent. Can't recommend them enough.
Read more Australia moving reviews
R Dickie
Bristol to Melbourne, Australia1st Move International was extremely good with helping us with our international move. They took so much of our stress away as they picked up the boxes and packed the crate themselves. They were very responsive to any questions we had, and communicated very well through the whole journey. When unpacking none of our stuff was broken, wet or crushed in any way. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about shipping overseas.
Read more Australia moving reviewsIt takes 45 days to carry out an international removal to Melbourne from the UK. This is the port-to-port transit times from London Gateway. Our guaranteed weekly shipping means that, unlike other companies, you don't have to wait until we fill a container before shipping.
Costs will start from £699 to ship furniture to Melbourne from the UK. This is the price of a small shipment via shared container. For a larger move using FCL, costs will start from £3,599.
The total price for shipping your items to Melbourne will depend on the volume of items you need moving and the destination. Fill out our quick and easy form to get a tailored, free quote for your international removals to Melbourne. Alternatively, call us on +44 117 9828 123 or .
Autumn (March-May) is an opportune time to make the move to Melbourne as you’ll have cooler weather and fewer tourists to help you settle. It’s always recommended to move before the school year starts if you’re moving with children. The UIS also suggest moving between January-March and July-September as they are good periods to find work in Australia.
Rest assured, we can move you to Melbourne at any time of the year with our guaranteed weekly shipping services.
Before you can move to Melbourne, you’ll need to get accepted for a visa. Unless you already have an Australian passport, the best way to become a permanent resident is via the following visas; family-stream permanent visa, work-stream permanent visa or business or investor-stream permanent visa.
We recommend doing your research and having everything in place before the move, this includes a job and a place to stay.
So we can ship your personal belongings to Melbourne, you’ll have to provide us with the following documents:
Don’t worry, all your documents can be securely uploaded via our document transfer page.
Read our detailed customs guide for Australia to find out more.
All customers can track their move 24/7 with our container tracking tool. You’ll receive a unique tracking number once your shipment has left the UK port so you can live track on its way to Melbourne.
Yes, we can also ship your car to Melbourne via Autoshippers. They can ship your vehicle inside a container or by specialist Ro Ro (Roll on Roll off) services from Southampton. You’ll need to obtain prior permission and apply for Vehicle Import Approval.
Autoshippers is part of the 1st Move International group of companies and are one of the largest shippers of private vehicles to Melbourne. Their 25+ years’ in the industry means they can guide you through the intricacies, paperwork, and customs required to safely ship your vehicle.
Boasting a multicultural environment, plenty of green spaces and an excellent quality of life, Melbourne is a great place to move from the UK. However, Melbourne does have a higher cost of living than other cities and the weather is known to be unpredictable. It's always recommended to do your research before making the move. Make sure your destination has the essential amenities and facilities required.
There are a diverse range of neighbourhoods on offer in Melbourne. The Inner Suburbs are a popular place to live. Fitzroy boasts a booming nightlife, Richmond has a great dining scene and St Kilda provides a laidback area near the beach. Williamstown in the Western Suburbs has a more relaxing way of life about it, both near the beach and the city. Kew and Hawthorn in the Eastern Suburbs are ideal locations for families, boasting great schools and amenities. To find out more, read our Moving to Australia guide.
It’s 31.1% more affordable to live in Melbourne than the UK (London). Melbourne’s average salary is $6,323.06 (£3,276.22), which is only 12% less than in the UK. groceries on average cost 11.1% more in Melbourne, but the overall cost of living makes up for this.
The cost of living is very similar to Brisbane and Perth, with these cities only being 0.2% and 0.1% cheaper, respectively. It’s more affordable to live in Melbourne than Adelaide, Hobart and Sydney.
Below we compare the cost of living in Melbourne with the UK by looking at London prices.
| Item | Melbourne | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $2,223.57 (£1,152.12) | £2,170.83 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $10,861.39 (£5,627.70) | £13,403.96 |
| Monthly salary after tax | $6,323.06 (£3,276.22) | £3,732 |
| 3 course meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant | $115 (£59.59) | £80 |
| 1 litre of milk | $2.19 (£1.14) | £1.33 |
| 1kg chicken fillets | $12.99 (£6.73) | £7.41 |
| Monthly travel pass | $185 (£95.86) | £200 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85m2 apartment | $230.42 (£119.33) | £281.33 |
| Monthly gym membership | $80.86 (£41.87) | £45.33 |
| Monthly private preschool | $2,663.53 (£1,379.11) | £1,815.85 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
Melbourne’s property market has seen signs of growth, but it still falls behind Sydney and Brisbane in terms of recovery. Strong demand for rental properties is hiking the prices, but it still remains 48.5% cheaper than in the UK. It's 58% cheaper to buy property in Melbourne than in the UK as well.
Below is a comparison of rental and buying prices in Melbourne compared to London.
| Item | Melbourne | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $2,223.57 (£1,151.31) | £2,170.83 |
| Monthly rent for 1-bedroom apartment outside of centre | $1,884.28 (£975.73) | £1,630.26 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $10,865.53 (£5,625.91) | £13,403.96 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment outside of city centre | $8,424.43 (£4,361.97) | £7,956.99 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
Melbourne has many excellent state schools on offer as well as private schools, international and Catholic schools. School age begins at 6 and ends when the students are 17. Many children attend preschool from the age of 4. There is further education available too. The University of Melbourne is renowned for its research courses and La Trobe University offers expertise in health and science.
The current unemployment rate in Melbourne has risen over the past year, with many job seekers focusing on obtaining a good work-life balance. Healthcare and social assistance is the top employer in Melbourne, with a consistent high demand for roles. Technology, education and construction also form a significant part of Melbourne’s job market.
Get the latest information on UK to Australia container shipping costs and container ports.
Everything you need to know about shipping furniture & personal effects from the UK to Australia.
Whether you're looking for basic moving tips, city info, or full visa and immigration guides we've got you covered.
We ship cars too. Get more information on our car shipping service.
We post up-to-date sailing schedule information and as part of our weekly shipping promise we'll tell you in advance what ship we can get your personal effects on.
We cover all the legalities of shipping household goods from the UK to Australia.
Australian customs are known to be one of the strictest in the world so we've detailed what you can and cannot ship in to the country.
Your life, carefully wrapped, beautifully packed, and protected for the journey ahead.
We are extremely proud of our unique packing process. We are the only international removals company in the UK that uses this tried and tested method to ship your treasured personal possessions overseas.
Visit our Facebook page to find a snapshot of each shipment captured as the final pallet is wrapped.
