This is the 2026 state nomination comparison for ANZSCO 394214 — Wood Turner. For pathway guide, skills assessment, invitation trends, and cost / timeline, see the linked cluster.
The summary
| State | 190 | 491 | 494 strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | ✗ | ✗ | Regional only — Hunter / Newcastle staircase, Northern Rivers artisan |
| VIC | ✗ | ✗ | Regional only — Daylesford / Castlemaine / Bendigo artisan cluster (strongest) |
| QLD | ✗ | ✗ | Regional only — limited specialty turning operations |
| SA | ✗ | ✗ | All of SA (regional) — Adelaide artisan, limited turning |
| WA | ✗ | ✗ | Regional only — Margaret River timber artisans |
| NT | ✗ | ✗ | All of NT (regional) — negligible |
| ACT | ✗* | ✗* | NOT regional — 494 not viable |
| TAS | ✗ | ✗ | All of TAS (regional) — Hobart artisan, Tasmanian timber specialists |
*ACT historically appeared in legacy state tables but federal visa-eligibility closes channel. And ACT is not regional for 494.
VIC — strongest artisan cluster
VIC does not nominate 394214. 494 viable in regional VIC: Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Daylesford, Castlemaine, Mornington Peninsula (partial), Latrobe Valley.
Industry fit — strongest:
- Daylesford / Castlemaine / Bendigo artisan cluster — Australia's strongest artisan furniture / wood-turning concentration.
- Regional Vic staircase manufacturers.
- Furniture restoration specialists.
TAS — all regional, premium timber specialists
TAS does not nominate 394214. 494 viable across all of TAS.
Industry fit:
- Hobart / Launceston artisan timber turners.
- Tasmanian Oak / Huon Pine / Blackwood specialists — premium timber turning.
- Heritage furniture restoration.
NSW — regional NSW pockets
NSW does not nominate 394214. 494 viable in regional NSW: Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Wollongong, Northern Rivers (Byron / Bangalow / Lismore), Coffs Harbour.
Industry fit:
- Hunter Valley / Newcastle staircase manufacturers.
- Northern Rivers artisan workshops.
Sydney metro excluded — bespoke turning operators in Sydney are not 494-eligible.
QLD — regional QLD limited
QLD does not nominate 394214. 494 viable in regional QLD: Sunshine Coast (regional), Gold Coast (regional parts), Toowoomba, Cairns.
Industry fit — limited: Specialty turning operators rare regionally.
SA — all regional
SA does not nominate 394214. 494 viable across all of SA.
Industry fit: Adelaide artisan workshops; SA timber industry adjacency.
WA — regional WA, Margaret River
WA does not nominate 394214. 494 viable regional WA.
Industry fit: Margaret River timber artisans (WA Jarrah / Marri / Sheoak specialists).
NT — minimal market
NT does not nominate 394214. NT turning market negligible.
ACT — not regional, 494 not viable
ACT does not nominate 394214 (federal ✗). For 494: ACT is NOT regional. No migration pathway to ACT for 394214.
Practical state selection
Tier 1 (strongest artisan clusters):
- Regional VIC — Daylesford / Castlemaine / Bendigo artisan cluster.
- All of TAS — Hobart artisan + Tasmanian timber specialists.
Tier 2 (functional sponsors):
- Northern Rivers NSW artisan cluster.
- Hunter / Newcastle NSW staircase manufacturers.
- Margaret River WA timber artisans.
Tier 3 (limited):
- Regional QLD specialty.
- SA artisan.
Tier 4 (minimal):
- NT — negligible.
The strategic recommendation
For 394214 candidates: regional VIC artisan cluster or all of TAS is the realistic primary target.
But the bigger strategic question is whether 394213 Wood Machinist (STSOL+CSOL, 7-state nomination) or 394111 Cabinetmaker (MLTSSL) is your better code. If your work crosses broader trades, those codes unlock points-tested 190 / 491 / 189 pathways.
Use 394214 only if your trade is genuinely lathe-only specialty turning.
Tools
- Points calculator
- Visa fee calculator
- Document checklist
- Eligibility wizard
- Invitation rounds tracker
- ANZSCO search
Authoritative sources
- Home Affairs visa pricing
- Subclass 494 details
- Regional postcodes for 494 / 491
- Trades Recognition Australia
- American Association of Woodturners
Next step
Want help comparing 394214 (narrow) vs 394213 / 394111 (broader) and identifying realistic regional sponsors? Book a 30-minute free strategy call with a MARA-registered agent at Global Select.