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Moving Data 2026: What 35,000 Dawson Moves Tell Us

What 35,000 Dawson moves tell us about where Australians move, and when. Since 2014 Dawson Moving & Storage has done over 35,000 household moves from our depots in Rowville (Melbourne) and Hume (Canberra), including over 13,000 interstate moves. This report shares the patterns in that data: the most popular interstate destinations, the busiest months to move, and the Melbourne suburbs we move most. Figures come from Dawson’s own job records, rounded down, and are updated each quarter. Last updated November 2026.

Key findings

  • Queensland is the top destination for Victorians. Brisbane leads with over 670 households moved from Victoria since 2014, and the Sunshine Coast adds over 500 more.
  • Canberra to Melbourne is our busiest route out of the ACT, with over 950 moves since 2014.
  • Summer is peak season. January is the busiest month for moves into Darwin, Cairns, Hobart, Launceston and the Sunshine Coast.
  • Most Melbourne moves stay local. In suburbs like Glen Waverley, Wantirna South and Mount Waverley, over 70% of Dawson moves stay within Victoria.

Where Victorians and Canberrans move interstate

Households Dawson has moved into each city since 2014, and where they came from.

Bar chart of households Dawson moved from Victoria to each interstate city, 2014 to 2026, led by Brisbane

City Total moves in, since 2014 From Victoria From the ACT Since 2023
Brisbane 1,100+ 670+ 400+ 370+
Perth 820+ 610+ 160+ 430+
Sunshine Coast 630+ 500+ 100+ 280+
Hobart 610+ 530+ 50+ 280+
Adelaide 580+ 400+ 130+ 220+
Sydney 480+ 260+ 200+ 160+
Darwin 390+ 290+ 60+ 280+
Gold Coast 360+ 250+ 90+ 90+
Cairns 270+ 230+ 30+ 160+
Launceston 240+ 200+ 18 60+
Townsville 200+ 150+ 20+ 90+
Newcastle 50+ 20+ 30+ 8

Canberra to Melbourne (over 950 moves since 2014) isn’t shown here because this table covers moves into cities outside Victoria and the ACT. See our Canberra to Melbourne page.

Bar chart of households Dawson moved from the ACT to each interstate city, 2014 to 2026, led by Brisbane

The busiest and quietest months to move

When Dawson’s moves into each city happen. Busy months book out first, so plan ahead if you’re moving then.

City Busiest months Quietest month
Brisbane March (10%), January (10%) April (7%)
Perth July (11%), February (10%) April (7%)
Sunshine Coast January (11%), February (11%) April (6%)
Hobart January (11%), February (10%) August (7%)
Adelaide November (12%), October (11%) May (5%)
Sydney July (10%), September (10%) March (6%)
Darwin January (20%), July (10%) May (4%)
Gold Coast October (10%), January (10%) May (7%)
Cairns January (15%), September (13%) December (4%)
Launceston January (11%), February (11%) October (6%)
Townsville November (13%), December (12%) March (5%)
Newcastle July (13%), October (13%) January (2%)

Where people deliver to in each city

City Most common delivery suburbs
Brisbane Brisbane city centre, North Lakes, Bulimba, West End and Coorparoo
Perth Perth city centre, Canning Vale, Forrestfield, Baldivis and Scarborough
Sunshine Coast Caloundra, Buderim, Maroochydore, Pelican Waters and Peregian Springs
Hobart Hobart city centre, Sandy Bay, Glenorchy, Huntingfield and Kingston
Adelaide Adelaide city centre, North Adelaide, Prospect, Glenelg and Norwood
Sydney Sydney city centre, Lane Cove, Surry Hills, Randwick and Mosman
Darwin Darwin city centre, Nightcliff, Rapid Creek and Stuart Park
Gold Coast Robina, Upper Coomera, Helensvale and Surfers Paradise
Cairns Cairns city centre, Kewarra Beach, Trinity Beach, Mareeba and Port Douglas
Launceston Launceston city centre, Newstead, South Launceston, Kings Meadows and Trevallyn
Townsville Townsville city centre, Burdell, North Ward, Kirwan and Idalia
Newcastle Newcastle city centre, Merewether, Belmont North, Wallsend and Warners Bay

Melbourne suburbs: who moves, and where to

Households Dawson has moved out of each suburb since 2014, the share that stayed in Victoria, and the most common interstate destinations.

Bar chart of the Melbourne suburbs Dawson moved most households out of, 2014 to 2026, led by Rowville

Suburb Moves out, since 2014 Stayed in Victoria Top interstate destinations Busiest month
Rowville 560+ 72% Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales June
the Dandenongs 460+ 84% Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT June
Ferntree Gully 320+ 83% Queensland, the Northern Territory, New South Wales August
Glen Waverley 200+ 84% Queensland, the ACT, Western Australia March
Wantirna South 180+ 86% Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania February
Brighton 180+ 61% Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT September
Mount Waverley 170+ 84% the ACT, Queensland, Tasmania May
Wheelers Hill 170+ 85% Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT April
Dandenong 170+ 33% the ACT, Tasmania, Queensland February
Frankston 160+ 51% Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia October
Kew 140+ 65% the ACT, Tasmania, Queensland July
Doncaster 110+ 65% Queensland, the ACT, New South Wales February
Balwyn 100+ 66% Queensland, the ACT, South Australia May
Malvern 100+ 56% the ACT, Queensland, New South Wales January
Toorak 100+ 66% the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland August
Wantirna 90+ 86% Queensland, the ACT, Western Australia March
Camberwell 90+ 59% the ACT, Queensland, New South Wales January
Mornington 90+ 64% Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales July
Vermont South 60+ 84% Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT May
Armadale 60+ 43% Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland February
Point Cook 50+ 17% Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT December
Templestowe 50+ 50% the ACT, Queensland, Tasmania September
Vermont 50+ 83% the ACT, Queensland, New South Wales May
Werribee 40+ 13% Tasmania, Queensland, the ACT October
Melton 15 23% Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT March

What this means if you’re moving

  • Moving in summer? December and January are peak season and cost more, so book early. Our 2026 price guide shows prices by home size and route.
  • Heading to Queensland? You’re in good company. See Melbourne to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Canberra to Brisbane.
  • Need time between homes? We can store your furniture at Rowville or Hume and deliver when you’re ready.

Moving data questions

Where do Victorians move interstate most?

Brisbane. Since 2014 Dawson has moved over 670 households from Victoria to Brisbane, followed by Perth (over 610), Hobart (over 530) and the Sunshine Coast (over 500). Queensland as a whole is the most common destination for Dawson’s Melbourne customers.

Where do Canberrans move interstate most?

Melbourne is Dawson’s busiest route out of Canberra, with over 950 moves since 2014. After Melbourne, the most common destinations from the ACT are Brisbane (over 400 households since 2014), Sydney (over 200) and Perth (over 160).

What is the busiest month to move interstate?

It depends on the destination. January is the busiest month for Dawson moves into Darwin (20% of jobs), Cairns (15%) and Hobart (11%), while July is busiest for Sydney and Perth, and November for Adelaide and Townsville. Book early for summer, when December and January demand peaks.

Which Melbourne suburbs does Dawson move most?

Rowville, where our depot is, tops the list with over 560 households moved out since 2014, followed by the Dandenong Ranges (over 460), Ferntree Gully (over 320), Glen Waverley (over 200) and Wantirna South (over 180).

How many moves has Dawson done?

Since 2014 Dawson Moving & Storage has done over 35,000 household moves from Rowville in Melbourne and Hume in Canberra, over 11,000 of them since 2023, including over 13,000 interstate moves. Dawson is family-owned and has been moving people since 1927.

Where does this data come from?

Dawson Moving & Storage’s own job records for household moves from 2014 to 2026. Figures are rounded down and updated each quarter.

Source: Dawson Moving & Storage job records, household moves 2014 to 2026, rounded down. You’re welcome to quote these figures with a link to this page. Dawson Moving & Storage is family owned since 1927 and AFRA accredited. Not affiliated with Dawson Moving and Storage NSW or Dawson Moving & Storage NQ (Townsville). See also Dawson moving facts.

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