Moving to Cranbourne: A Practical Guide for Your Move

Fifteen years ago Cranbourne was still a bit of a country town. Now it's one of the fastest-growing parts of the City of Casey, with new estates spreading out through Cranbourne East, North and West, and moving trucks on just about every street some weekends.

If you're about to join them, read on. We'll cover the drive, the houses, what it costs and a few things new-build buyers get caught out by. If you'd rather hand the heavy lifting to someone else, our removalists in Cranbourne page has the details.

The Drive Is Longer Than People Think

Cranbourne's about 45 km south-east of the CBD. Most trucks come down the Monash, then cut across on the South Gippsland Highway or Thompsons Road.

That distance matters. Coming from the inner north or the west? You could spend a good chunk of the morning on the freeway before anyone lifts a box. Hit the Monash at 8 am on a weekday and it's worse again. Removalists mostly charge by the hour, so the clock's running the whole time.

Our advice is simple. Start early. A 7 am departure beats a 9 am one almost every time.

The Cranbourne train line finishes right in town too, which is great for the commute afterwards but no help with the couch.

New Estates Have Their Own Quirks

A lot of what we move into in Cranbourne is newer double-storey stuff. Nice houses. Tight stairs, though, usually with a turn at the landing that a king bed base won't get around in one piece. Big modular couches can be the same. We'd rather work that out at the front door than halfway up with two blokes wedged behind a mattress.

Then there's parking. Estate streets are narrow, driveways sit side by side, and on a Saturday half the street's cars are parked out the front. If the truck ends up three houses down, every trip takes longer. Mention it when you book. Even better, ask the neighbours if they'd mind leaving the kerb clear for the morning.

Older Cranbourne's a different job. Mostly single-storey brick on bigger blocks, which is easier in some ways. Long driveways and a shed full of twenty years' worth of gear can eat up the time instead.

What It Costs

Truck size decides most of it. Ring A Mover's current rates include two movers and start around $90–$105 an hour for a 2-tonne van. Most three- to four-bedroom homes need the 8-tonne truck, at $170–$180 an hour. The full price table is on the Cranbourne removalists page.

A move within Cranbourne usually takes two to five hours. Coming in from across town, add the travel.

Whoever you book, ask how they charge for travel time before you commit. It's the thing people most often don't ask about and then argue over at the end of the day.

Stairs will add time, as will a long walk from the truck to the door, or a garage that "we'll sort out on the day". Pianos and pool tables are a separate conversation altogether.

Packing

If you've got a few weeks and not much money to spare, pack it yourself. Start with the rooms nobody uses. The kitchen goes last, because you'll need it until the end.

Working full-time with kids at home? Then paying for packing starts to make sense. Pros are quick, the boxes don't collapse, and the labels mean you're not opening eight boxes on the first night looking for the kettle.

Once You're In

Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre has most of what you'll need that first week. The Cranbourne site of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, just out of town, is worth a Sunday with the kids. And there's no shortage of local footy, netball and cricket clubs if you want to meet people.