Moving From Ireland to Australia: Container or Groupage?

Moving from Ireland to Australia means deciding how your belongings will make the trip. We ship household goods to Australia by full container or by groupage, a shared load, and the right choice comes down to how much you are bringing and how long you can wait for it.

We are a family-run removals firm in Dublin, going since 1982. International moves are part of our work, and for anyone heading to Australia this is the decision that shapes the rest of the move. Get it right and the packing and the planning fall into place around it.

Two ways to ship a household to Australia

There are two options, and we offer both on the Australia route.

Full container. The container is yours. Only your belongings travel in it, and nobody else’s goods share the space.

Groupage. Your goods share a container with other people’s. You take up part of the space rather than all of it. You may also hear it called a part load or a shared load.

Because we ship both, we have no reason to steer you one way or the other. We would rather help you pick the one that fits your move. You can see how we handle the route on our Dublin to Australia removals page.

How much are you bringing?

How much you are bringing is the question that decides most moves. Before you think about containers, walk through the house and be honest about what is really going.

Some people are bringing the contents of a whole family home: beds, sofas, wardrobes, the dining table, the lot. Others are bringing boxes of clothes, books and photos, a bike and a few good pieces of furniture. Those are two very different moves, and they don’t need the same answer.

A full container suits a move where you want your own space, with only your things inside. Groupage suits a move where you only need part of a container. If you aren’t sure which side of the line you are on, that is exactly what a quote is for. Tell us what’s going and we will talk you through both.

How long can you wait for it?

How long you can wait for your things is the other half of the decision. Think about when you need them in Australia, and how you will manage until they arrive. Are you staying with family for a while? Moving straight into a rented place? Starting a new job the week you land?

Tell us your dates when you ask for a quote. We will go through the timing for each option for your move, so you can weigh it up before you commit. We won’t promise you a date we can’t stand over.

Decide what goes before you decide how it goes

Cutting down what you bring can change which option suits you, so it is worth sorting this first.

Not everything has to go to Australia, and not everything has to be decided now. If there are things you aren’t ready to part with, we can keep them in our own storage. All our storage is our own and on site, for the short or long term, and you can get to it by booking.

For the things you don’t want at all, we can clear them. Usable furniture from our house clearances is donated to Restore. Everything else is disposed of legally under our waste collection permit, NWCPO-25-13139-01, which is valid in all 26 counties. So you can ship, store and clear with one firm, rather than juggling three.

Packing for a long trip

A move to the other side of the world is a long way for a box to travel. How it is packed matters. Our packing service covers the whole house, so you don’t have to do it yourself in the last mad weeks before you fly.

Our customers have told us how this has gone on other long-distance moves. Michal Bierestowski (December 2023) moved from Ireland to Germany with our full packing service, with no delays and no damage. Mary Kelly (September 2024) had her belongings packed in Ireland and shipped to two different US addresses, and everything arrived in perfect condition. Those weren’t Australia moves, but they show how our packing holds up over a long distance.

Who you are trusting with your things

You are handing over most of what you own for a long journey, so it is fair to ask who you are dealing with.

We are members of the International Association of Movers (IAM), FEDEMAC (the Federation of European Movers Associations) and the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA). We are licensed, and we carry goods in transit insurance and public liability insurance. Three generations of the Hanway family have run this business, and we have looked after more than 12,000 customers. On Google we have 4.8 stars from 42 reviews (as of October 2026).

If you are moving somewhere other than Australia, our international removals page lists the other routes we cover.

Questions about moving from Ireland to Australia

Do you ship to Australia by full container and by groupage?

We ship to Australia by both full container and groupage, so you can choose the one that suits how much you are bringing and when you need it.

How much does it cost to move from Ireland to Australia?

The cost of moving from Ireland to Australia depends on how much you are bringing and which option you choose, so we price every move by quote. Our quotes are clear, with no hidden fees.

Can you store the things we aren’t bringing to Australia?

We can store the things you aren’t bringing to Australia in our own storage, on site, for the short or long term.

Get a free quote

If you are moving from Ireland to Australia, let us help you decide between a full container and groupage. Get a free quote or ring us on 085 194 9801. During business hours, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, we reply to quote requests within one hour.