Paddington moves, planned for the hills

Paddington sits about 4.6 kilometres west of the Brisbane CBD, in the foothills of Mount Coot-tha. Very little of it is flat. The suburb is set across steep ridges and hills, with many peaks and gullies, and its main roads, Given Terrace and Latrobe Terrace, follow the ridgetops.

That shape decided how Paddington was built. Brisbane City Council's heritage records describe the familiar Brisbane pattern here: substantial homes for the wealthy on the ridges, and rows of small workers' dwellings in the lower side streets. Many of those workers' cottages and Queenslanders still stand, mostly on small blocks by Queensland standards.

So two Paddington moves can look nothing alike. A ridge-top Queenslander with a side driveway is one job. A cottage halfway down a gully street, with a narrow path and steep front steps, is another. Every Paddington quote starts with the walk from your front door to the kerb. The rate itself is simple: $125 to $169 an hour + GST for a moving truck and two professional movers.

On a small block, the strip between the house and the street is usually the whole working area. We plan that space before anything is lifted.

• Uphill and downhill carries. On a gully street, the truck may stand well above or below your front door. We work out the safest line, then use trolleys and the right number of hands for the grade.
• Measured turns. Cottage hallways and front doors were built for smaller furniture. We check the largest pieces against the narrowest point, and dismantle beds, tables and wardrobes when that is the safer way through.
• Side paths and gates. If the only way to the back of the house is a side path, measure it. A sofa that clears the front door may not clear the downpipes.
• Charges you know in advance. Where a stair charge applies, it is $48 including GST per flight. If the truck can't use the driveway, the truck-inaccessible driveway charge is also $48. Both are confirmed before you book.

Our house moving service includes basic dismantling and reassembly, and quilted blankets protect timber floors, doorframes and verandah posts on the way out.

Given Terrace begins near Suncorp Stadium, and Paddington is inside Council's Lang Park Traffic Area, along with Rosalie, Milton, Petrie Terrace and Red Hill. On event days, unless a vehicle has a resident or visitor permit for the area, parking in the streets around the stadium is limited to 15 minutes. The restrictions apply from two hours before the gates open until two hours after the event finishes.

The stadium's traffic management plan also closes Caxton Street and part of Petrie Terrace to traffic after events, to give the crowd a safe walking route. A loaded removal truck needs far more than 15 minutes at the kerb.

• Check the stadium calendar before you choose a date, especially for an evening or weekend move.
• Tell us how parking works on your street. Mention any permits you hold when you request a quote, so we can plan where the truck will stand.
• Choose a quiet day where you can. A weekday or non-event date keeps the truck clear of the restrictions. After-hours and weekend moves are also available, subject to availability.

Given and Latrobe Terraces, and Rosalie village, are known for boutique shopping, cafés, galleries and dining. Over the years, many businesses were added onto house frontages along the terraces. That mix shapes moving day in three ways.

• Loading near a busy strip. If your home or business fronts Given or Latrobe Terrace, we plan where the truck can legally stop and how long the carry will be. Any parking or permit costs are passed on.
• Small offices in old houses. A studio, practice or agency in a converted Queenslander is still an office move, with desks, files, screens and a deadline. Our office removals can run after hours or on weekends, subject to availability, so you lose less working time. IT and network setup isn't included, so book your IT provider for the new premises.
• Single pieces. Bought a sideboard or dining table on the terraces? Our furniture removals handle single items and small loads with the same blankets and straps as a full house.

Not every Paddington home is a Queenslander. In the 2021 Census, separate houses made up 66.2 per cent of occupied private dwellings, flats and apartments 21.7 per cent, and semi-detached, terrace and townhouses 11.5 per cent. Renting is common too: 42.8 per cent of homes were rented, against 33.1 per cent across Queensland.

That means plenty of unit moves and lease-end moves. For those:

• Walk-ups. Tell us how many flights there are at each end, so the crew, timing and price match the real job.
• Lifts and loading. In a lift building, book the lift and any loading area with building management first, and ask about permitted move times.
• Lease dates. We ask for 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule, so lock in your date once your lease dates are settled.

Our apartment removals follow each building's rules. At the end of a lease, our junk removal service can take unwanted furniture away, charged on time plus disposal by weight.

• Into the city. The CBD is about 4.6 kilometres away. An inner-city apartment is a short drive, and the building's dock and lift rules usually take more planning than the trip.
• Next door. Moves to Bardon or Auchenflower cover little distance but often mean stairs and slopes at both ends. Taringa is a short run further west.
• The Gold Coast. The Riverside Expressway, an elevated section of the Pacific Motorway, runs along the western edge of the CBD and continues as the Pacific Motorway to the Gold Coast. We move between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in both directions.
• Interstate. For longer trips, see our interstate removals.

At the new home, our unpacking and setup service can place cartons in the right rooms, reassemble furniture and take the used packing away.

We charge by the hour and show the numbers up front. On a hill, the extras that matter most are stairs, driveway access and heavy pieces.

• $125 to $169 per hour + GST for a moving truck and two professional movers.
• Included at no extra charge: quilted blankets, furniture pads, flat dollies, hand trolleys, ratchet straps, stretch wrap, bubble wrap and dish paper on request, and basic dismantling and reassembly.
• $48 incl. GST each, where they apply: stair flights, a truck-inaccessible driveway, appliances, items over 90 kg, hoisting, an extra pick-up or drop-off, or an extra trip.
• Pianos: $149 incl. GST on top of the hourly rate, subject to an access assessment.
• Travel: depot-to-depot or a call-out fee, confirmed before you book. Parking and permit costs are passed on.

A deposit secures your date. See the full breakdown on our pricing page, then request a quote with both addresses, photos of the approach and stairs, and your preferred dates. Our team aims to call new enquiries back within five minutes during business hours.