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In fact, there were 32.2 per cent more people moving from capital cities to regional areas than the other way around, according to CBA’s latest Regional Movers Index (RMI) for Q4 2024.
Migration from the capitals to the regions accounted for 11.4 per cent of the total migration. Meanwhile, migration from regional to the capitals was 8.6 per cent.
This is reportedly the lowest number of people migrating from the regions to the cities since COVID-19 lockdowns ended.
Sydneysiders are fleeing the city in droves, as 59 per cent of all capital city outflows left Sydney. Of those who left Sydney, 38 per cent settled in regional areas.
Victoria followed with 40 per cent of all city leavers fleeing Melbourne and 33 per cent settling in regional areas.
The most popular destinations for internal migration were:
- Sunshine Coast (10 per cent)
- Greater Geelong (8.5 per cent)
- Lake Macquarie (5 per cent)
- Moorabool (4.1 per cent)
- Maitland (3.6 per cent)
The Sunshine Coast is consistently the most popular destination for regional migration, retaining the top spot for nine consecutive quarters.
However, while it accounted for 10 per cent of all internal migration, it’s far below the 17.5 per cent in the same period a year before.
The growth of migration to Greater Geelong saw the largest yearly increase, climbing a whopping 69.2 per cent. Following was Lake Macquarie at 64.8 per cent and Maitland at 61 per cent.
City dwellers also preferred the Sunshine Coast for a regional move, with 7.9 per cent of net capital to regional migration going there.
Following was once again, Greater Geelong at 7 per cent. Gold Coast (5.3 per cent), Moorabool (4.2 per cent), and Lake Macquarie (4.2 per cent) followed.
However, these weren’t the fastest-growing destinations for capital city movers. The crown went to Bunbury, which saw annual growth in capital to regional migration climb a staggering 388.9 per cent.
Following was Greater Bendigo at 278.7 per cent, Bega Valley (182 per cent), Maitland (152.3 per cent), and Greater Geelong (117.1 per cent).
Desire to move to our nation’s regions is fuelled by enthusiasm, said the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie.
“Regional Australia is the new frontier, and people are enthusiastic about the career opportunities and lifestyle benefits it offers. The RMI’s net migration index, which measures net population flow into regional Australia, is now sitting 51 per cent above the pre-COVID average,” Ritchie said.
“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.”
The data is important for brokers to gather an understanding of where clients are looking for a sea change but even more so for policymakers, who should recognise the growing desire the regions are garnering.
“With lower-than-average employment rates and limited housing supply, more investment is needed in construction, manufacturing and property development to support these growing communities,” said CBA’s acting executive general manager, regional and agribusiness banking, Josh Foster.
“Continued development in roads and transport infrastructure like the Gympie bypass are also integral to improving accessibility to these thriving regions and offer businesses a commercial opportunity to expand or relocate beyond major metro areas.”
Ritchie said: “It’s critical that decision-makers note this important, contemporaneous data to ensure plans can be made, both now and into the future for these growing communities. The better we are able to project Australia’s population movements, the better we can prepare for them, ensuring the needed skills and services are in the right place, at the right time.”
