From Melbourne to Bath, Rediscovering Home

After three and a half years working from Melbourne, Australia, I decided it was time to move back home to the UK. As much as I loved Australia, I was ready to be closer to my friends and family again. I’d enjoyed my time in Melbourne, but I was looking forward to returning to the West Country.

I’d planned the move for a long time, although some of the practical arrangements ended up happening much closer to my departure than I’d hoped. Between working, selling furniture, packing and preparing to leave Australia, there was plenty to get through.

One of the strangest moments came right at the end, when I left my completely empty house in Melbourne and headed to the airport with just a couple of very heavy bags.

Choosing an international moving company for my return to the UK

I started by searching Google for international moving companies and submitting requests to a few different companies.

I eventually selected Worldwide Move Management, partnering with PSS International Removals, after a brief email conversation and a video call to estimate the shipment size I’d need.

The support I received before actually booking was fantastic. I had a lot of questions about the move, and they were all answered promptly.

Having that opportunity to discuss the shipment beforehand was really helpful, especially as I was trying to work out what I’d be taking back to the UK and what I’d need to sell before leaving Melbourne.

Preparing my Melbourne home for the move

Although I’d been planning the move for a long time, I didn’t have a confirmed moving date until very shortly before I was due to fly.

That made the final preparations pretty stressful. I was working during the day and spending my evenings packing things to be shipped or trying to sell the belongings I wasn’t taking with me.

Selling things turned out to be particularly frustrating. When you’re working to a tight deadline, people messing you around on online marketplaces becomes infinitely more annoying. I ended up giving some things away just to get rid of them.

There was also one particularly stressful evening involving my TV. I was trying to unscrew the base so I could get it back into its box, but managed to strip the screw thread instead. That resulted in a late-night phone call to my Dad back in the UK!

For the final few weeks, I was sleeping on an inflatable mattress because of the preparations. Looking back, I would’ve preferred to book an Airbnb or somewhere similar for the last week or two. It would’ve been great to have a little more time to get everything ready, rather than having so much to do in the evenings after work.

Moving day in Melbourne and the final trip to the airport

Despite the stressful preparation, moving day itself was great.

The crew were really friendly and got everything packaged up and removed quickly and carefully. After all the evenings spent packing, selling and sorting things out, it was good to have the actual collection go so well.

I left my Melbourne home on the same day I was due to fly back to the UK. Getting into a taxi to the airport with only a couple of very heavy bags, leaving behind a completely empty house, was a really strange experience.

What went well

• The support before booking was fantastic, and my questions were answered promptly.
• The video call helped estimate the shipment size I’d need.
• The moving crew were friendly and handled the packing and removal quickly and carefully.
• My belongings eventually arrived in the UK and fitted comfortably into my new room.

What didn’t go as expected

• I didn’t have a confirmed moving date until shortly before my flight.
• Preparing everything while working full-time made the final weeks stressful.
• Selling belongings through online marketplaces took more time and patience than I’d hoped.
• I ended up sleeping on an inflatable mattress for the final few weeks.

Arriving near Bath and making room for my belongings

My new home couldn’t be more different from my old house in Melbourne!

While I save up for a place of my own, I’m currently living with my parents in their 1850s cottage in a small village. I’m incredibly lucky to have a huge room, nearly a one-bed apartment in itself, which fits all my furniture comfortably.

When my shipment arrived, I could finally get my belongings set up again. Having my furniture around me made the room feel more like my own space, even though I was back living with my parents.

Rediscovering the West Country and feeling at home again

One of the things I’d really missed while living in Australia was the green rolling hills of the West Country. It’s great to be back.

I think the feeling of being home returned in two parts.

The first was when I went for my first trail run after returning. I came across some beautiful areas and encountered rabbits, hares and deer. It felt like being welcomed back home by nature! That was a lovely reminder of what I’d missed about this part of the UK.

The second moment was much simpler, but just as important to me. My belongings had arrived, and I could finally start up my PlayStation and play some games.

Between getting back out into the countryside and having my own things around me again, I started to feel properly settled. It’s certainly a different living situation from Melbourne, but I’m happy to be closer to my friends and family while I save for somewhere of my own.

My advice for preparing an international move from Australia

If I were doing another international move, I’d definitely give myself more time to prepare and make the final weeks a little easier.

• Start preparing as early as possible. No amount of preparation is too much, particularly when there’s a lot to organise before leaving the country.
• Get personal admin out of the way. The more I could have completed ahead of time, the less I’d have needed to deal with during those final busy weeks.
• Start selling belongings early. Online marketplaces can be frustrating when people waste your time, especially if you’re trying to clear a house before a fixed departure date.
• Think about temporary accommodation. Next time, I’d definitely consider booking an Airbnb or something similar for the final week or two instead of sleeping on an inflatable mattress.
• Allow time around work commitments. Working all day and spending every evening preparing for the move was tiring. I’d try to avoid leaving so much until the last minute.

From an empty house in Melbourne to feeling at home in Bath

Moving back to the UK after three and a half years in Melbourne was something I’d been planning for a long time, but the final weeks were more stressful than I’d expected. Between selling belongings, packing after work and leaving my empty house behind on the day of my flight, there were plenty of moments I’ll remember.

The actual moving day went really well, and I’m glad to have my belongings back with me now. Living in my parents’ cottage is very different from my old life in Australia, but being close to friends and family again was the reason I wanted to return. Going for that first trail run through the West Country, seeing rabbits, hares and deer, and eventually getting my PlayStation set up again were the moments that really made me feel like I was home.