Regional
Geelong top destination as city dwellers move to regions
Migration from Australia’s capital cities to regional areas continued to rise last quarter, with Greater Geelong becoming the most popular destination. Relocations from capital cities to regions rose by 10.5% over the previous quarter, according to the Regional Australia Institute and Commonwealth Bank’s Regional Movers Index. This is around 20.5% higher than the pre-2020 average. “The nation’s love affair with regional life is showing no signs of abating with 25% more people moving from capital cities to the regions, than back in the opposite direction,” said Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie. “Regional Australia is being reimagined. The regions’ enviable lifestyle offerings, buoyant jobs market, position as an economic leader and diverse communities are proving to be an ongoing lure, particularly for those in metropolitan areas.” Sydney and Melbourne represented the vast majority of migrants into Australia’s regions, with Sydneysiders making up 64% of the net migration outflow and Melburnians at 38%. Regional New South Wales and Victoria also accounted for 74% of net migration to all regions. Victoria’s Greater Geelong received the largest influx of net internal migration over the past twelve months, be
Aussies move to regions, internal migration drops: report
Australians are increasingly moving to regional areas, though internal migration has begun to slow. Around 32% more Australians moved from large cities to regional areas than the reverse in the December quarter, according to a report by Commonwealth Bank and the Regional Australia Institute. Total internal migration fell by almost 12%, however, in a seasonal slowdown at the end of 2024. “ Regional Australia is the new frontier, and people are enthusiastic about the career opportunities and lifestyle benefits it offers,” said Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie. “The emergence of new mover hotspots further out shows this increase of population into Australia’s regions is not isolated to a couple of places, rather that it’s happening all over the country. It’s why we must ensure communities have the infrastructure, funding and support they need to ensure they can continue to welcome new residents.” Migration from capitals to regions represented 11.4% of internal migration, rising by 0.1% from the previous quarter. The local government areas reporting the largest share of inbound internal migration were Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Victoria’s Greater Geelong. Migration from capitals significantly outpace
Housing affordability goes beyond average house price
Research has shown that younger Australians are leaving major cities at a rate 20% above pre-pandemic levels in hopes of securing more affordable living, with more than 24% moving from cities to regional zones than the other way around. Compare the Market has released new research examining average prices in selected cities across the country to see which are more affordable than state capitals. New South Wales had the most dramatic difference with the most affordable locations outside of Sydney being Taree, Tamworth and Dubbo. Taree was 133% cheaper with an average house price of A$469,081, while Tamworth was 129% cheaper ($477,735), followed by Dubbo with an average 123% ($492,088) price drop in housing. In Victoria the average house price in Traralgon was 91% less than Melbourne, followed by Mildura at 89% and Shepparton was 68% less on average. While in the country's northeast, regional cities had the biggest price increases over capitals. Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast were 18% and 15% more expensive respectively than Brisbane's average housing price. Around the country the only other city that saw as big an increase over the capital was Busselton in Western Australia, which was 15% more expen
The top regional locations drawing in city residents
City dwellers are continuing to move regional, in even greater numbers than during the height of COVID lockdowns. The latest Regional Movers Index by the Regional Australia Institute and Commonwealth Bank revealed migration to regional Australia was at the highest level since March 2022, with inflows 80% above the pre-pandemic average. The index tracks quarterly and annual movement trends among CBA’s 17 million-plus customers, and also found that 35.6% more people were moving from capital cities to regional area than back in the opposite direction. The Sunshine Coast accounted for the largest share of 11.6% of net internal migration, but arrivals there fell by a huge 26.6% from last quarter, while the Gold Coast dropped from its long-held top five position down to eighth place. Greater Geelong, Victoria, came in second with an 8.6% share and Lake Macquarie in New South Wales came third at 4.8%, but scored the highest annual growth rate among the top five at 55.8%. Maitland, also in NSW, joined the top performers with 3.4% of interstate arrivals. Following the release of the index, CEO of the RAI Liz Ritchie called on policymakers to prioritise the regions as Australia's "new frontier”.