Emigrating and travelling at same time - what to do with boxes?

Apologies in advance for posting in more than one forum - wasn't sure what this would come under, and couldn't find similar thread (possibly being a bit slow this morning so happy to be corrected!)
We are looking to travel for a bit over a year, then end up in Sydney.
The issue is, that our stuff is currently in London, and we need to get it to Sydney, but we won't be there to collect it.
Does anyone have any good ideas? Obviously we are looking at the most economical option. Sadly the friends and family we have here don't have space to keep it for us and send it on later, and storage here seems astronomical. Not sure if it might be cheaper in Sydney?
We could ship it to NZ (to my Mums place) as she has space, but then we'd need to ship it on again later.
Sorry this is a bit of a big ask, I guess I'm wondering if others have had this problem before and what they did to resolve it. Assuming that we want to ship maybe 3-4 boxes (bikes and sporting equipment, a few clothes etc).
Any thoughts/ help gratefully recieved!

I made two one month reconoiter trips to Spain, b4 moving from Texas. On trip 2, I asked every expat I met, "Do you have any regrets about this life changing move?"

In Spain, they all said, "I regret nt doing it twenty years back, while wishing. And I regret all that stuff in storage, that I'll never look at again."

This Texan passed-on the heirlooms, saved and shipped thirty of my hundred record collection. And called for a Good Will Industries truck. Its just stuff.

eight years now. Still haven't listened to those records, nor used most of the other crap I paid 80% import duty on.
Just stuff.

It depends what kind of stuff.
Most stuff is not worth shipping across the globe; however, if you insist some moving companies offer storage facilities for a price.

My wife stored about 26 boxes of stuff when we moved in 1992 - I stored about ten. Most of it ended up at Goodwill after about 15 years. We couldn't even remember what most of it was and when we opened the boxes after years away from them - we were quite disappointed at the STUFF we thought was so important. We had been excited, we thought - "Remember all the cool stuff?" We couldn't and it wasn't. Nope.

I think of the 36 total boxes we ended up keeping maybe 10% or less of the STUFF.

Save photos. A few really important sentimental objects and dump the rest of the stuff.

We're just in the process of finally getting rid of the majority of stuff we put in storage in the UK in 1987 ! We had a bit of a clear out on a trup back a few years ago, and now getting rid of much of the rest. We're shipping out to Hong Kong photo albums, record collection & a few hardback books & small selection of things of sentimental value.

Be really, really ruthless with what you decide to keep. Find out about prices of storage in Sydney & decide then which is cheaper, UK or Aus. Don't ship it to your mum's place - she won't thank you!

If you stash stuff with friends Or "give it to them" it'll still be your junk taking up their space. They won't use the stuff you gave them. To them- its yours.

I figured; When survivors of tornadoes etc fires... lose all. they usually say,"Well. We saved the family pictures. That's all that really matters."

If you haven't used something in two years. Chuck it.

I'm the kind of packrat, who saves a whole issue for one article. Then forgets it.

Now I buy my books at antique malls. $1.30.

Buy a good and/or pocket English/Spanish or such, dictionary, in your home country.

This Texan can't find one in Spain, with instructions in English.

Hey guys,
Thanks for all the advice, its really helpful. Fast coming around to your way of thinking!
So I think I am coming to terms with selling the bikes, as I can get a new one there, no drama.
Otherwise its mostly going to be things of sentimental value, photos and clothes etc. I think if we can get down to 1 box or maybe 2 we can squeeze it in a corner at boyfriends family's and leave them some money (hopefully from selling all the things we don't need to take) to send over later.
I'm like you gawkabout - massive packrat! Going to be painful for me but you're right, the less I can take the better.

good luck, hon. Its like pulling teeth.

I was thinking about selling my record collection of 100.Minus the can't replacers.

Haa haa

That would have taken two weeks at least. and buyer would use them to make money..

Sooooo Good Will Industries helps crafty real collecters at better price.

And I'm free. Decision made and hands dusted.

Now what do I do with the thirty I brought? Was given three turmtables, all stripped out.
Funny karmic lesson.

@ 80% import duty.
ç(8oD>

forget storing clothes. Nothing ever fits later and damp or moths can be a problem

Totally agree re clothes! Ditch 'em, because you're not going to be wearing today's stuff in a year or two. I'd say only keep something of real value that you would wear again, like a really nice classic leather jacket (but be careful how you store it). If it's uber trendy, chuck it, because it will be as outdated as yesterday's cheese sandwich by the time you wear it again.

One thing you'll learn in your new home is, when storewide sales are on.

TALK WITH LOCALS AND OTHER EXPATS.

What's wrong with this picture.

Name one item that you can't live without, go ahead name just one. I already know the answer to that question. Not one thing is that important. You can mail a photo album if you don't have them on digital otherwise get rid of all your junk, that's what it is to anyone but you, junk.

You can always buy new junk when you get to Australia believe me that have lots of it waiting for you to buy. LOL

you have photos you don't have the digital original of ? IF so then scan them and make them digital - airmail one copy to your mum. Keep another copy with you - thumb drives don't take so much space. As others have said - dump the clothes - really you will NEVER wear them again - quite apart from the fact you are moving to an entirely different climate - you will never wear them

How much stuff do you have? Does it include furniture and such? If that much, consider shipping it by container, or maybe they have ways to rent out parts of a container. Ship it the slowest possible way, therefore you won't have to pay as much for storage; but of course find out what it all will cost beforehand. Between shipping, duties and storage it may not be worth it.

Unaccompanied baggage ain't cheap, and is chancey IMO. The number of stories of shipments going awry (severe duties, handling costs, disappearing, etc) probably is second only to stories of getting robbed in S. America.

I had a pair of trousers stashed away for five years and I'm impressed that they still fit!