Didnt know where to put this post.

Treated, finished wood projects shouldn’t be a problem. The issue arises with untreated wood, especially with bark attached. Skip the pieces with live edges and you should be fine.

Take a look at the AQIS site at http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/mail/cant-mail for a complete list of what you can’t send to someone now living down under.

My wife and I lived there for almost 5 years—I hope your brother and his girlfriend enjoy their life in Oz as much as we did! My kids were both born there, and I celebrated my first four anniversaries in Oz. The biggest change I remember was the scorching heat on Christmas day. :-)

-- Woodworking is easy as 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510...

This may help

edit: d’oh bret beat me to it lol

-- - Jei, Rockford IL - When in doubt, spray it with WD-40 and wrap it with duct tape. The details will attend to themselves.

And note that Jei’s referenced page is specifically for importing, which is not really what you’re doing. You’re sending a gift by Post, so the rules are somewhat different (that is, more restrictive).

The most essential thing is to be accurate and detailed when filling out the customs slip. “Handmade wooden box, finished with polyurethane varhisn, no attached bark or live edges, no sign of insect infestation in lumber” will go a long way to convincing some customs official that you actually know what you’re doing sending packages into Australia. And list it as a gift, otherwise they may end up paying import duty on it.

If worst comes to worst, they’ll be informed by AQIS that the parcel was held by customs. Several options exist—they can ask that it be destroyed, they may be offered the option to have it irradiated, which carries some minor cost, I think, but it ensures that the parcel will be delivered, or they may opt to have it returned to you at someone’s expense. It won’t just vanish into the ether, though.

I remember ordering an artificial Christmas wreath one year which arrived with real pine cones attached. We had the three options above and chose irradiation. The wreath is still with us, none the worse for wear.

-- Woodworking is easy as 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510...

Gidday from the land down under… I have had many wooden objects sent to me and also recently some bare dressed timber .. in this case Indian Rosewood and Bubinga… from LJer patron….. no problems at all..
Btw where are they living…

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...

hey thanks all ye really have taken the guess work out i have to say i actually spent 6 months down under and was there for xmas which was odd but something that should be tried.
degose they are heading back too melbourne where they were before and where i spent 5 months i love the place a great way of life, they are citzens and are there for a pretty long time i reckon thats why it was so hard to see them go this time..

-- thats not a mistake... i ment that