Can I import my wooden coffee grinder (and other items)?

Hi,

We will be moving to Melbourne in September and are starting to get things packed up for the move. However, there are a few items that we wish to bring with us, which may be frowned upon, due to the nature of their intended use and the materials they are made of.

One such item is a Zassenhaus wooden coffee grinder, from West Germany. Is this going to be jumped on by the customs/quarantine inspectors, as it has been used and is wooden? We also have some vintage wooden ice skates from Holland. The metal blades have rusted, as they are purely decorative and are kept outside (on a balcony - we have no garden). Because they too are wooden, will they be allowed, particularly with the rust?

Obviously, we can't bring food products with us, but we do wish to bring as much of the kitchen equipment as possible. Are there any no-nos you can advise on? We'd hate to lose any of our stuff and/or get fined, when we could just sell any items of risk before we leave.

Thanks for your help.

pearljamfan

Skates may be (probably will be?) an issue due to the rust and being kept outside.

If wood is used internally and sealed there is rarely a problem. Just wash it very well. If it has obvious insect damage then you have no hope. They will fumigate and you will get the bill. That may change the flavour of your coffee!

Clean vacuum cleaner. If its a cheap one, chuck it and buy a new one. We did that and claimed it as new, never used on the customs forms. No issues.

Tent pegs. Chuck. Buy new ones here. 50c each at anaconda. Clean tent to within an inch of its life. We had a third floor apartment, I cleaned it in the bath, what a pallava, funny though. Took hours.

Christmas decorations. Wooden or plant based are an issue, can't remember if they are treated or destroyed. Others will tell you. We just didn't bring them.

Clean bottom of shoes with Milton. Scrub all dirt off you can see. We used a toothbrush and drunk lots of wine as we did it. Great fun!

Clean any tools. Ensure no surface rust or dirt.