Stephen Bonollo of Grace Removals Australia examines market shifts in the Australian removal industry, new operational challenges - and the increasing impact of technology and AI.
Grace Removals Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of the GCW Group, Australia’s largest integrated provider of relocation services. The GCW Group operates a number of businesses and brands across the moving, storage, fine art, FF&E, property management, information management, digital transformation and logistics sectors.
Grace Removals offers a comprehensive range of moving, storage and DSP solutions for both individuals and businesses, domestically and internationally.
Market shifts
A number of significant global and domestic economic factors are currently influencing the housing, moving, and relocation sectors.
While Australia might seem “distant” from the key political and financial hubs of the Northern Hemisphere, our economy is heavily reliant on global trade, especially with China, the USA, and European markets. Because of this reliance, international instability – especially regarding US tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and energy supply chain constraints - continues to shape Australia's local investment landscape and inflation outlook.
Net overseas migration has been a major driver of economic growth since the pandemic. In 2023, migration reached a record high of 536,000 people and has since stabilised at approximately 450,000 per year. This surge is largely due to a national skills shortage, an increase in net migration from New Zealand and an increase in family reunion migration visas. For our business, these high migration levels have fuelled a strong demand for moving and relocation services, especially in major urban areas.
A key trend in the domestic economy is the ongoing rise in house prices and building costs, leading to median house prices exceeding A$1 million in all Australian capital cities. This has created significant challenges for younger Australians trying to buy their first home.
As a result, many young families are relocating to regional areas, where housing is more affordable, and lifestyle opportunities are often more appealing. These shifting patterns are impacting factors such as relocation volumes, route planning, temporary housing needs, and storage demand.
Industry direction
We continually monitor whether the market is expanding or contracting, and examine the primary drivers behind those trends.
Whilst we remain cautiously optimistic for 2026, we expect the domestic moving market to continue to cool while the international market could be impacted by growing pressures on government to reduce immigration numbers.
Many households are relocating in search of affordability and improved lifestyles, often choosing interstate or regional hubs ...