If you’ve ever wondered what removalists won’t move on the day, the honest truth is that there’s a real list — and it catches a lot of people out. After years on the trucks around Wollongong and the Illawarra, we’ve turned up to plenty of jobs where a chunk of the garage or shed simply can’t legally or safely go on our truck. It’s never fun telling a family that on moving morning, so this is the advice we’d give our own family: sort these items out before we arrive.
Below is a straight rundown of the items we can’t take, why, and what to do with them instead — so your move stays smooth and nothing gets left behind in a panic.
Why removalists can’t move everything
It comes down to three things: the law, insurance, and safety. Removalists in Australia operate under transport and dangerous-goods rules, and our transit insurance simply won’t cover certain items. If a can of petrol tips over in the back of a moving truck on the M1, it’s not just your gear at risk — it’s the crew and every other driver on the road. So when we say no to something, it’s not us being difficult. It’s us keeping everyone safe and your belongings covered.
Flammable and hazardous items removalists won’t move
This is the big one. Anything that can catch fire, explode, or leak dangerous fumes stays off the truck. The most common offenders we see in Wollongong garages and sheds are:
- Petrol, diesel and fuel cans — including what’s inside the mower and whipper snipper. Run the tank dry before the day.
- Gas bottles — BBQ bottles, camping canisters, patio heater tanks. Even “empty” ones hold residual gas.
- Paint, thinners, turps and solvents — half-used tins from the last reno are a classic.
- Aerosols — spray paint, deodorant multipacks, insect spray, oven cleaner.
- Pool chemicals — chlorine and acid can react violently, especially in summer heat.
- Fireworks, ammunition and lighter fluid.
- Fertilisers and weed killer — some are surprisingly reactive.
Our tip from the trucks: use up, give away, or safely dispose of these in the weeks before you move. Wollongong City Council and the surrounding Illawarra councils run Community Recycling Centres and Household Chemical CleanOut days that take most of this for free. Don’t tip chemicals down the drain — it’s illegal and it comes back to bite the whole community.
Perishables and food
Frozen and fresh food is another one people forget. A full chest freezer feels like a waste to empty, but food that thaws in a warm truck for a few hours turns into a smelly, leaking mess — and it can ruin the boxes around it. Run your fridge and freezer down in the fortnight before the move, and eat or give away what’s left. If you’re moving locally and insist on taking a few frozen items, pack them in a good esky with ice bricks and carry them in your own car. For the fridge itself, there’s a right way to do it — we walk through it in our guide on fridge removals in Wollongong.
Plants
We love a good indoor jungle, but pot plants are a grey area. On a local Wollongong move we’ll often take hardy plants if they’re well secured, but they’re not covered by insurance — soil spills, pots crack, and leaves get crushed under other items. For interstate moves it’s a hard no: most states have strict biosecurity rules about moving plants and soil across borders to stop pests and diseases spreading. If you’re heading across state lines, check the rules before you pack a single pot. Our interstate removals team can talk you through what’s allowed on your route.
Valuables, documents and irreplaceables
This one isn’t about safety — it’s about peace of mind. We’d rather you keep certain things with you personally:
- Cash, jewellery and precious metals
- Passports, birth certificates and legal documents
- Medications and prescriptions you need daily
- Laptops, hard drives and small electronics with irreplaceable data
- Sentimental items like photo albums and heirlooms
Nothing usually goes missing — our crews are careful and experienced — but if a box is going to keep you up at night, it belongs in your car, not our truck. Pack an “essentials box” and an overnight bag and keep them with you.
Illegal items and firearms
We shouldn’t have to say it, but we can’t transport anything illegal, and firearms have their own strict transport laws in NSW. If you own registered firearms, you’ll need to move them yourself in line with your licence conditions and storage requirements. Same goes for anything else that isn’t legal to possess or transport — it stays off the truck, full stop.
What about the tricky, heavy or awkward stuff?
Here’s where people get us confused. There’s a difference between what we won’t move and what’s simply hard to move. Pianos, pool tables, gun safes, spa baths, huge fish tanks and dismantled sheds are all heavy and awkward — but we move them all the time. Solving awkward jobs is half of what we do. The trick is to tell us about them when you book so we bring the right crew, trolleys and straps. Don’t hide the piano and hope we’ll figure it out on the day — a heads-up means a faster, cheaper move for you.
How to handle it all before moving day
A move is the perfect excuse to get rid of the stuff you’ve been avoiding. Start early — a few weekends out — and work through the garage, shed and laundry where the hazardous gear hides. Use up the paint, drain the fuel, book a chemical drop-off, and give away the freezer food. Budgeting for a bit of disposal is smart, and the government’s MoneySmart guide to managing moving house costs is a good, honest read on where the dollars go when you move.
If packing the rest feels like too much, that’s exactly what our packing services are for — and if you’re between homes and need somewhere to put things, our furniture storage in Wollongong can bridge the gap. When you’re ready for the big lift, our house removals crew will handle everything that’s allowed on the truck.
Frequently asked questions
What items will removalists not move?
The main things removalists won’t move are flammable and hazardous goods (petrol, gas bottles, paint, aerosols, pool chemicals), perishable food, and often plants. Most will also ask you to personally carry valuables, documents and medications. Anything illegal or firearms must be moved by you under the relevant laws.
Why won’t removalists take gas bottles or petrol?
Because they’re dangerous goods. In a moving truck they can leak, ignite or explode, and they’re not covered by transit insurance. It’s a safety and legal issue, not a fussy one — empty the mower and BBQ bottle before we arrive and you’re sorted.
Can removalists move pot plants in Wollongong?
For local Illawarra moves we can often take well-secured plants, though they’re not insured. For interstate moves, biosecurity rules usually prohibit moving plants and soil across borders, so those you’ll need to rehome or replace at the other end.
What should I keep with me instead of loading on the truck?
Keep cash, jewellery, passports, legal documents, daily medications, and small electronics with irreplaceable data in your own car. Pack an essentials box and an overnight bag so your first night in the new place is easy.
Moving in Wollongong? Let’s make it simple
Sort the prohibited gear early and the rest is easy — that’s where we come in. We’ve been doing this a long time around Wollongong and the Illawarra, and we’ll give you the honest advice we’d give our own family. Call us on 1300 015 050 for a straight-up quote, or send a few details through the form below and we’ll get straight back to you.
