This guide is intended for individuals who may, from time to time, get antiques or collectables sent from overseas and have to deal with customs in order to get the goods into Australia. With the ease at which antiques can now be purchased over the internet, it is important to know how to then get them in the country. I think it's also important to know what other customs or import fees you might have to pay, in order to figure this into the original cost of the item.
In this guide, I'm talking about goods that have a stated value of over (AUD) $1000. This is because you may import goods under $1000 into Australia (apart from alcohol and cigarettes) without paying duty or taxes. So, anything under $1000 should not require any forms to fill out and *should* arrive at your door. However, Customs still has the power to open parcels to check for illegal imports, so take a look at the Customs prohibited and restricted imports page if you think your item may fall into this category.
In Australia, anything over $1000 requires a Customs Import Declaration to be filled out before the goods can be released. I think in reality this means that Customs has the power to hold anything over $1000, but it probably doesn't hold everything that is just over $1000. According to the Customs website, if you have multiple goods arriving at the same time, these may be grouped together (which may push their combined value over $1000) - so be aware of this if purchasing multiple items, even if their individual value is less than $1000.
So, if you are purchasing an item worth more than $1000, it is possible the item will get stopped by Customs. They will send you a notice in the mail stating that they are holding your goods and will enclose a bunch of forms which need to be filled out in order to get your goods released. Customs advises that you can fill the forms out yourself, or pay a customs broker to do it. while filling out all the forms are a pain, I have done it successfully in the past, so I think it is possible to do by yourself. But, if you don't feel comfortable, customs brokers are listed in the Yellow Pages.
The main form you have to fill out is the Import Declaration - Post (N10) form. If this is the first time you've had to use the system, you'll also have to fill out the Customs client registration form and provide 100 points of identity to prove who you are. You'll also need to fill out a client registration form for your "supplier" - so make sure you have a proper business address for the dealer or shop you bought your goods from, not just an internet address.
Once you've registered on their system, you'll receive a Customs Client Identification Number (CCID).
Filling out the N10 form
You now need to fill out the N10 form to claim your goods. Part A is fairly self explanatory - enter your name and contact details in the spaces provided. The owner ID is where you enter your CCID or ABN (if you have one), and use the reference number Australia Post gives you for the Owner reference.
Section B is also fairly self explanatory since most of the information is given to you by Australia Post (or you know it yourself). For the origin country code, you're meant to use the ISO country codes which can be found here. Most of these are fairly self explanatory.
Section C is where you need to know what you're doing. While they have simplified this process, it is still important to know what you're filling and why - otherwise you could end up paying more than you need to! For Sender/Supplier Name, use their business name if at all possible. Under Description of the contents of the parcels, err on the side of more description, not less. Customs definitely doesn't like generic descriptions such as "antiques" or "collectables". Try to be specific without going over the top: eg "antique ring from 1800s containing seed pearls"; "Silver-plate 1900 teapot", etc. They like to know what materials the goods are made of, if it is possible to list them. With jewellery, I would advise to include any gems set in the jewellery, as they are very specific about this in the tariffs lists.
For the Value of goods in AUD, you will have to use their exchange rates to calculate the cost of your goods. These are published weekly by Customs and can be found here. You are meant to know the date when your goods entered the country in order to use that day's exchange rate to calculate the value of your goods. I have used the date listed on the Notice you get from Australia Post to calculate the exchange rate successfully in the past. You'll also need to use the exchange rates to calculate the Value of Postal and Insurance charges in AUD.
Next comes the Tariff Classification. While Customs does provide a list of common tariff codes, when I did this last time, this didn't include the code for antiques. The code you'll mostly be able to use is 9706.00.00. This class is defined as "antiques of an age exceeding one hundred years". The statistical category for this class is 07. If this class is not appropriate, take a look at the other chapter 97 classes because this includes other useful categories such as paintings, drawings, scupltures and collections. Another useful class is Chapter 71, which lists jewellery, gems and other precious stones. However, be aware that these other categories may have a different duty level which means you might pay more. The antiques-specific class is duty free, meaning you will only need to pay GST. The full tariff list can be found
here.
I usually leave the additional information about this parcel section blank. Then, sign and date the form, and you're done!!
The process once the form is completed
The easiest way to communicate with Customs is by fax. You can lodge it electronically but I think this means you have to buy a digital certificate, which costs $130. I'm not even sure if it's possible to buy one for an individual. Anyway, once you fax the form in, Customs will check it for completeness and accuracy.
If you've filled out the form correctly, and customs has no issues, they will inform you of how much you must pay to retrieve your goods. This process can be sped up by also filling in the Direct Debit request form, if you're happy doing direct debit. You can also pay by internet banking or eftpos.
Once you've paid the appropriate amount, Customs will release your goods back to Australia Post who will then deliver them. It used to be possible to pick them up from an Australia Post outlet in Tullamarine, but this is no longer possible. Goods should be held at your closest regional office, which means they're already in the right state, so they shouldn't take too long to get to your door.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Brisbane Antique Centre
A recent trip to Brisbane allowed us to view some of the antique shops and centres in that region. One place well worth a look is the Brisbane antique centre, located in Albion, a short drive from the centre of Brisbane. The centre is run by a husband and wife team who both have extensive experience with antiques - he (Graham) controls most of the floor stock including furniture, silver and porcelain, and she (Pamela) does the jewellery. Pamela trades under the name "Banbury Cross Fine Antique Jewellery" and until recently had her own shop in downtown Brisbane.
Both Graham and Pamela stock high-quality antiques. Unfortunately for us, high-quality generally means not affordable! They are both experts in their fields and very knowledgeable about their stock - which makes a pleasant change. Pamela has a lot of Victorian and Edwardian jewellery, including mourning and heirloom jewellery, as well as cameos, watches and watch keys. Pamela is also a restorer and conservator and does do museum-quality restoration on some of her pieces (museum-quality meaning it should be able to be reversed). I am generally wary of restorers since I think the (potential) owner should be the one to decide if they want to restore something, not the dealer before selling it, but it did not seem that Pamela restored all her pieces automatically.
Graham's furniture ranged from high-quality English Victorian and Art Deco furniture to Australian timber. He has a wide range of types of furniture and there were plenty of tables and chairs to choose from. There is also a good collection of silver and porcelain in cabinets along the walls. Brisbane Antique Centre does seem more of a "look - don't buy" place but the stock is well worth a look and you might just find that perfect antique there.
23 Crosby Road, Albion, QLD.
10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Both Graham and Pamela stock high-quality antiques. Unfortunately for us, high-quality generally means not affordable! They are both experts in their fields and very knowledgeable about their stock - which makes a pleasant change. Pamela has a lot of Victorian and Edwardian jewellery, including mourning and heirloom jewellery, as well as cameos, watches and watch keys. Pamela is also a restorer and conservator and does do museum-quality restoration on some of her pieces (museum-quality meaning it should be able to be reversed). I am generally wary of restorers since I think the (potential) owner should be the one to decide if they want to restore something, not the dealer before selling it, but it did not seem that Pamela restored all her pieces automatically.
Graham's furniture ranged from high-quality English Victorian and Art Deco furniture to Australian timber. He has a wide range of types of furniture and there were plenty of tables and chairs to choose from. There is also a good collection of silver and porcelain in cabinets along the walls. Brisbane Antique Centre does seem more of a "look - don't buy" place but the stock is well worth a look and you might just find that perfect antique there.
23 Crosby Road, Albion, QLD.
10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Geelong 2007 Antique Fair
The Geelong 2007 Antique Fair was held in the Geelong West Town Hall over 18-20 May. I was looking forward to this fair because the last few years have been pretty good, and, while I didn't go last year, I was reliably informed that it was excellent.
It was a disappoinment.
We went on the Sunday to find mostly junk (what is described as "object d'art" or "collectables"), some furniture and lots of pottery. Lots and lots of Australian pottery, some of it optimistically marked as "Art Deco" when it was clearly 1950s-60s in design. There was a smattering of local art and crafts, jewellery and pottery. There was very little (antique) jewellery and almost no silver. Most of the dealers were local but it seemed that most of the high-end Victorian dealers had stayed away (waiting for Williamstown or Camberwell, perhaps?). There were a couple interstate dealers but certainly not as many as in previous years.
Another issue I noticed at the fair was the practice of dealers breaking up sets and selling them as individual items. This most happens with plates, cutlery and teasets. I understand they make more money this way, but it's very disheartening to see the sets being broken up, particularly the complete sets, as it's almost impossible to put them back together again or find enough of the same set. It's particualarly galling when the single item-set of a teacup, saucer and cake plate are sold separately even though they themselves have been split up from the general set already. This practice seems to be increasing and will do nothing to attract new buyers or collectors to an already weak antique market.
So the verdict: easily missable, very disappointing after a number of good years, I will have to think about whether it is worth going next year.
It was a disappoinment.
We went on the Sunday to find mostly junk (what is described as "object d'art" or "collectables"), some furniture and lots of pottery. Lots and lots of Australian pottery, some of it optimistically marked as "Art Deco" when it was clearly 1950s-60s in design. There was a smattering of local art and crafts, jewellery and pottery. There was very little (antique) jewellery and almost no silver. Most of the dealers were local but it seemed that most of the high-end Victorian dealers had stayed away (waiting for Williamstown or Camberwell, perhaps?). There were a couple interstate dealers but certainly not as many as in previous years.
Another issue I noticed at the fair was the practice of dealers breaking up sets and selling them as individual items. This most happens with plates, cutlery and teasets. I understand they make more money this way, but it's very disheartening to see the sets being broken up, particularly the complete sets, as it's almost impossible to put them back together again or find enough of the same set. It's particualarly galling when the single item-set of a teacup, saucer and cake plate are sold separately even though they themselves have been split up from the general set already. This practice seems to be increasing and will do nothing to attract new buyers or collectors to an already weak antique market.
So the verdict: easily missable, very disappointing after a number of good years, I will have to think about whether it is worth going next year.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Maryborough Station Antique Emporium
The Maryborough Station Antique Emporium is located in Maryborough, Central Victoria, about 2 hours drive from Melbourne. It's housed in the beautiful Maryborough Station, which is being cleaned and restored and the building itself is well worth a look. The antiques "emporium" part of the building actually doesn't take up that much space. The main antiques are housed in a room off the cafe and mainly consist of small furniture, porcelain and other small items such as jewellery, enamel signs and glassware. There are also new materials in the same room, such as silver jewellery and art vases. In general, I do not think there are enough antiques, or that they are of a high enough quality, to warrant repeated visits. Also, the service can be pretty shoddy. Last time we were there, we inquired about the prices of a couple of items that didn't have price tags. They were unwilling to even attempt to phone the dealers or take our details to give to the dealers next time they were in - both things that are standard practice at other antique centres. Also, when we did purchase something, one person didn't know how to use the eftpos machine, and then the other charged us the wrong amount! I understand that centres like these are mostly staffed by the dealers who put in a certain number of hours each week - but in most of the other antique centres, they ensure their dealers know how to do basic things like take a sale!
It was funny we bought anything at all, as we had actually gone for the food. The Station Cafe is a fantastic place for lunch, and uses local produce and wines almost exclusively. Everything is homemade on the premises and the menu is constantly changing. The cafe is a nice place to sit and has many of the original features of the station. However, the high ceilings mean it can get noisy during the lunch hour(s) if a bus tour or similar arrives.
While I would not recommend the Maryborough Station as a place to visit solely for the antiques, it does make a nice day trip to drive up through central Victoria and have lunch in the station cafe before taking a quick look at the antiques. I should also note that they have an outdoor antique and collectables market at the Station which is held about three times a year.
Summary: Maryborough Station Antique Emporium
Railway Station, Maryborough, Victoria, 3465 Australia
Ph: 54614683
It was funny we bought anything at all, as we had actually gone for the food. The Station Cafe is a fantastic place for lunch, and uses local produce and wines almost exclusively. Everything is homemade on the premises and the menu is constantly changing. The cafe is a nice place to sit and has many of the original features of the station. However, the high ceilings mean it can get noisy during the lunch hour(s) if a bus tour or similar arrives.
While I would not recommend the Maryborough Station as a place to visit solely for the antiques, it does make a nice day trip to drive up through central Victoria and have lunch in the station cafe before taking a quick look at the antiques. I should also note that they have an outdoor antique and collectables market at the Station which is held about three times a year.
Summary: Maryborough Station Antique Emporium
Railway Station, Maryborough, Victoria, 3465 Australia
Ph: 54614683
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Bendigo Easter Antique Fair
The Bendigo Easter Antique Fair was held over the Easter long weekend in Kangaroo Flat, just outside Bendigo. It featured dealers from all over Victoria and some from South Australia and New South Wales. The majority of the dealers had small items like small silver, jewellery and porcelain. There was not much furniture. While there were a few stalls with very high-quality products, most of the stalls had a mixture of junk and better-quality, meaning a fair amount of digging was required to find anything of value. There was one stall of second-hand clothing which had some neat things from the 1940s and 50s and a couple of stalls with asian antiques, including some satsuma-ware and jade.
All in all, it was a decent fair for its size (two rooms; a circuit could be done in 30 mins easily) and was mostly reasonably priced, although I thought some of the interstate dealers were quite high. However, I do wonder about the viability of this fair so close to the (much larger) Ballarat Antique Fair which had many of the same dealers. I would not put the Bendigo Fair on a list of "required fairs to attend" but it was enjoyable, all the same.
All in all, it was a decent fair for its size (two rooms; a circuit could be done in 30 mins easily) and was mostly reasonably priced, although I thought some of the interstate dealers were quite high. However, I do wonder about the viability of this fair so close to the (much larger) Ballarat Antique Fair which had many of the same dealers. I would not put the Bendigo Fair on a list of "required fairs to attend" but it was enjoyable, all the same.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Tyabb Packing House Antiques Centre
Tyabb, about 60km from Melbourne, is a well known Antiques area. The largest centre in Tyabb is the Tyabb Packing House Antiques Centre . They claim it's the largest collection of antiques and collectables in Australia.
Tyabb Packing House Antiques Centre is divided into a number of complexes; the largest is the Packing House itself, which houses the majority of the antique dealers, the toilets and cafe. Behind the Packing House, there's a bunch of little stores and buildings which house anything from antiques, local crafts and what can only be described as junk. Not that I have anything against junk!
Highlights of the Packing House include antique costumes and accessories (stall in the main hall of the packing house to the left of the entrance); jewellery; books; china and porcelain, particularly Beswick and Royal Doulton. In general, there is a good turnover of stock meaning that it is always good to visit again and look at the new things.
A couple other stalls always worth a look are the stall to the right of the entrance - it's all colour coded and has all sorts of interesting stuff including chairs, some clothing and accessories such as parasols, and small glassware and porcelain such as wine decanters and teacups and saucers. Today she also had two giant portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert up for grabs. Another stall is the art deco stall near the cafe. The dealer has only moved in recently and has some great art deco items including some great cigarette holders and picnic baskets.
I should also note that there is a lot of furniture of varying quality. There's a lot of traditional Australian-made stuff - not my thing but if you're into it, it's worth a look. The stalls in the middle have a selection of more high-quality mahogany and walnut furniture but I would advise checking the quality of it as it can vary.
I also highly recommend the cafe for lunch or afternoon tea. They are licensed and do great alcoholic milkshakes and serve a variety of local wines. They also serve lunches such as pasta, pies and baguettes and have a range of cakes for dessert. The quality is good and the menu changes regularly. Service is quick but it can get a bit frantic between 12-2 on the weekends.
Tyabb is well known as an antiques area and weekends can be very busy with coachloads of tourists. However, the Packing House is usually large enough that it isn't a problem.
Summary:
Tyabb Packing House Antiques Centre
14 Mornington-Tyabb Road, 3913.
Ph: (03) 5977 4414
Open: 10am - 5pm Thursday to Sunday and Public Holidays
Tyabb Packing House Antiques Centre is divided into a number of complexes; the largest is the Packing House itself, which houses the majority of the antique dealers, the toilets and cafe. Behind the Packing House, there's a bunch of little stores and buildings which house anything from antiques, local crafts and what can only be described as junk. Not that I have anything against junk!
Highlights of the Packing House include antique costumes and accessories (stall in the main hall of the packing house to the left of the entrance); jewellery; books; china and porcelain, particularly Beswick and Royal Doulton. In general, there is a good turnover of stock meaning that it is always good to visit again and look at the new things.
A couple other stalls always worth a look are the stall to the right of the entrance - it's all colour coded and has all sorts of interesting stuff including chairs, some clothing and accessories such as parasols, and small glassware and porcelain such as wine decanters and teacups and saucers. Today she also had two giant portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert up for grabs. Another stall is the art deco stall near the cafe. The dealer has only moved in recently and has some great art deco items including some great cigarette holders and picnic baskets.
I should also note that there is a lot of furniture of varying quality. There's a lot of traditional Australian-made stuff - not my thing but if you're into it, it's worth a look. The stalls in the middle have a selection of more high-quality mahogany and walnut furniture but I would advise checking the quality of it as it can vary.
I also highly recommend the cafe for lunch or afternoon tea. They are licensed and do great alcoholic milkshakes and serve a variety of local wines. They also serve lunches such as pasta, pies and baguettes and have a range of cakes for dessert. The quality is good and the menu changes regularly. Service is quick but it can get a bit frantic between 12-2 on the weekends.
Tyabb is well known as an antiques area and weekends can be very busy with coachloads of tourists. However, the Packing House is usually large enough that it isn't a problem.
Summary:
Tyabb Packing House Antiques Centre
14 Mornington-Tyabb Road, 3913.
Ph: (03) 5977 4414
Open: 10am - 5pm Thursday to Sunday and Public Holidays
Welcome
Welcome to Antiques in Melbourne, a new blog to document the various antique shops, centres and fairs on/around/in Melbourne (and possibly some other places if the opportunity arises!).
I've added a calendar so that fairs and other events can be added. Please email me or leave a comment if there's any event you want added.
The links and info is a work in progress so again please comment or email if there's a particular site you want listed.
I've added a calendar so that fairs and other events can be added. Please email me or leave a comment if there's any event you want added.
The links and info is a work in progress so again please comment or email if there's a particular site you want listed.
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