Chess Moving North Queensland
Named crew members repeatedly praised for careful packing on long-distance moves from Cairns.
Reviewers who got Leno, Ant, Kurt, Clem, Blair, or the Bamaga team describe seamless, damage-free experiences with genuinely careful packing; others report crushed boxes, missing tools, and furniture left unassembled at delivery with no prior notice of arrival. That inconsistency between crews — particularly between pickup and delivery ends on interstate jobs — is worth raising directly when you book: ask who handles each leg, whether assembly is included at delivery, and what the claims process looks like if items are damaged, since at least one reviewer found the insurance excess made claiming impractical.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (11 total)
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 362 removalists in Cairns
Credentials & background
Sourced from 4 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Chess Moving North Queensland
Chess Moving North Queensland operates as part of the national Chess Moving network, handling long-distance relocations out of the Cairns region — including routes to Brisbane, Mareeba, and as far north as Bamaga. The crew roster that comes up most in reviews includes Leno, Ant, Kurt, Clem, Sean, Blair, Alex, Lyndsey, Lino, and Kev-Ray, with several of these names praised specifically for wrapping fragile and antique pieces and managing difficult delivery conditions like rain and stair access. The team's strength appears to sit with the packing and loading stage: multiple reviewers call out fast, careful work that left nothing damaged. Where things get complicated is the handoff between crews — one reviewer flagged that disassembly done at pickup was not matched by reassembly at delivery, pointing to a coordination gap between the Brisbane and Cairns ends of a job. As a GST-registered company rather than a sole trader, this is a structured operation with an internal claims process, though at least one reviewer noted the insurance excess made that process feel more nominal than practical. This business suits homeowners moving long distances from Cairns who prioritise experienced packing crew and are prepared to confirm assembly and delivery logistics explicitly before booking.
Best for: long-distance moves from the Cairns region to Brisbane or remote Queensland destinations, homeowners who want a full packing service for fragile or antique items, and those moving large households where an experienced named crew can be confirmed in advance.
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Chess Moving North Queensland
What areas does Chess Moving North Queensland service?+
The Portsmith-based operation handles moves out of the Cairns region across a wide geographic range. Reviews specifically mention completed moves from Cairns to Brisbane, Cairns to Mareeba, and as far north as Bamaga. For moves of this scale — particularly interstate — it's worth confirming which crew handles each end of the job, as pickup and delivery are typically managed by separate teams.
Does Chess Moving North Queensland offer furniture reassembly at the delivery end?+
Reassembly is listed as a service, but at least one reviewer reported that the delivery crew declined to reassemble furniture that had been disassembled at pickup, citing time pressure and other jobs. This is worth clarifying in writing before you book — confirm specifically that reassembly is included at the delivery address, not just at pickup, especially for interstate moves where different crews handle each leg.
What do customers say about how Chess Moving North Queensland handles fragile or valuable items?+
Several reviewers mention careful wrapping of fragile pieces — one specifically called out an antique sideboard arriving undamaged, and another praised the team's handling of a full household move to Bamaga in rainy conditions up a set of stairs. However, other reviewers reported items arriving crushed or damaged. The difference in outcomes appears to track with which crew is assigned, so asking about your specific team in advance is worthwhile.
What is Chess Moving North Queensland's insurance and claims process like?+
As a structured company, they do have a formal claims process, and at least one reviewer described the process itself as relatively quick. However, another reviewer noted the excess on each box made claiming impractical for lower-value items, leaving them out of pocket. If you're moving high-value belongings, it's worth reviewing the insurance terms — specifically the per-item or per-box excess — before you decide whether additional cover is needed.
Which crew members are mentioned most positively in reviews?+
The names that appear most frequently in positive reviews are Leno and Ant (praised for fast, efficient packing on a Cairns-to-Brisbane move), Kurt, Clem and Sean (credited with a seamless Cairns-to-Mareeba move), and Blair, Alex and Lyndsey (praised for careful packing on the Brisbane-to-Bamaga job). Lino and Kev-Ray are specifically called out for handling a difficult unload in rain up a staircase. Reviews don't cover all crew members, so there are likely others not mentioned.