Local and furniture removals
House and unit moves within Townsville, plus single furniture items and small loads, priced hourly or fixed.
Removalists in Townsville
Moving house in Townsville, heading down the coast to Brisbane, or north to Cairns? Tell us about the move and an independent local removalist will contact you with a quote.
- Local house, unit and single item moves
- Long distance moves to Brisbane, Cairns and Mackay
- Bond cleaning to finish off a rental move
Local, long distance and interstate moves
Interstate and long distance
Long distance and interstate moves from Townsville, with dedicated truck or shared backload options quoted by volume.
Bond cleaning
An end of lease clean booked for after the truck leaves, plus how the RTA exit condition report and bond refund work.
Popular routes from Townsville
Long distance moves up and down the Bruce Highway are some of the most common jobs for Townsville removalists. Each route has its own planning issues, so we have written a guide for each:
- Townsville to Brisbane removalists: about 1,332 km and roughly 15 hours of driving, usually split over two days.
- Townsville to Cairns removalists: about 347 km and roughly 4 hours, with wet season flood risk north of Townsville.
- Townsville to Mackay removalists: about 386 km and roughly 4.5 hours via Ayr, Bowen and Proserpine.
Distances and drive times are from australiatravelquestions.com. For anything further afield, see interstate and long distance removals.
Planning a move in the wet season
Most of Townsville's rain falls in the November to April wet season. The Bureau of Meteorology says monsoon rains from late December to early April bring the highest rainfall, and this is also when tropical cyclones can threaten the region (BoM climate of Townsville). Roads do get cut: in February 2025 floodwaters washed away part of the Ed Kratzmann Bridge north of Townsville, and heavy vehicles could not cross for eight days (QRA).
If you are moving between November and April:
- Build a buffer day or two into long distance moves and any lease end dates.
- Check QLDTraffic before moving day and ask the removalist what happens if the highway closes.
- Pack for rain: plastic tubs for important papers and electronics, mattress bags and plenty of tape.
- Ask how the removalist protects furniture between the house and the truck in a downpour.
Renting? Bond and exit inspection basics
About 36.6% of occupied homes in the City of Townsville are rented (ABS 2021 Census), so many moves end with a bond refund. In Queensland, the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) says you must leave the property in the same condition it was in at the start of the tenancy, less fair wear and tear, after a thorough clean (RTA). You hand in an exit condition report with the keys, and the refund is claimed with a Refund of rental bond (Form 4).
Book the cleaner for after the truck has gone, not before. Our bond cleaning page explains what a vacate clean usually covers and how the refund process works.
Before you book a removalist
Queensland's Office of Fair Trading suggests you compare several quotes, ask whether the price is by time or by quantity, try to avoid upfront deposits, and make an inventory with photos of any existing damage (Queensland Government). It also notes that most removalists only insure their own vehicles, so consider transit or contents insurance for your belongings. Our moving checklist puts all of this into a week-by-week plan.
How it works
- Send the quote form with your pickup and delivery suburbs, preferred date and home size.
- We pass your request to one independent removalist. Local moves and long distance or interstate moves may go to different independent removalists, and bond cleaning requests may go to a separate cleaner.
- The removalist contacts you directly to confirm details, price and timing.
What does it cost?
Finder publishes about $110 to $175 an hour for two movers and a truck in Brisbane, the nearest Queensland figure, and about $600 to $2,200 nationally for a local 3 bedroom move. See every row and its source.
Common questions
How far ahead should I book a removalist?
As early as you can, especially for end of month, weekend, school holiday and long distance moves. Getting several written quotes takes time, so start four to six weeks out if possible.
Do removalists insure my belongings?
Not necessarily. The Queensland Office of Fair Trading says most removalists only have insurance for their own vehicles, so consider transit or contents insurance (Queensland Government).
Do removalists need a licence in Queensland?
We have not found a removalist-specific licence in Queensland. Drivers of trucks over 4.5 t GVM need the right truck licence class (Queensland Government). AFRA membership is voluntary.
Areas covered
Across Townsville, from Kirwan, Annandale and Aitkenvale to Bushland Beach, Deeragun and Kelso, plus long distance moves to Brisbane, Cairns and Mackay.