Increase in people choosing a regional lifestyle despite Sydney and Melbourne lockdowns

The latest Regional Movers Index – a partnership between the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) and Commonwealth Bank – shows that the number of capital city residents moving to regional areas rose two per cent during the September quarter, and three per cent from a year earlier.

RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said regional net migration jumped 14 per cent during the September quarter. Meanwhile, people already living in country and coastal towns are tending to stay put, rather than moving to capital cities. 

“Sydney was in lockdown for the entire September quarter and Melbourne for two-thirds of it and still we see an increase in the overall number of people choosing a regional lifestyle,” Liz Ritchie said.

“This only underlines what our research has found – that Australians have woken up to the huge range of job and lifestyle opportunities available in our regions.”

Commonwealth Bank’s Executive General Manager for Regional and Agribusiness Banking, and RAI Regional Australia Council (RAC2031) member, Grant Cairns says the bank is committed to supporting regional Australia and it is pleasing to see more people choosing to make the switch from metropolitan areas.

“Despite the lockdowns in New South Wales and Victoria, we have seen key projects – such as infrastructure projects – create more jobs in the regions. More job opportunities combined with the fact that many Australians have the opportunity to work remotely means we will likely continue to see a shift in the number of people choosing to live in the regions,” Mr Cairns said.

“The latest data also reflects the ongoing regional renaissance – supported by a strong agriculture sector which is expected to enjoy another record-breaking year. As much of the country begins to come out of lockdown, we can expect to see the trend of Australians moving to the regions continue, as we know that when regional Australia does well, the impacts are felt across the country.”

RAI Chief Economist Dr Kim Houghton says the index shows the greatest growth in capital city migration during the September quarter tended to be in less-populated regional areas, where even a small inflow can result in a big fluctuation in percentage growth.

“South Australian local government area (LGA) Wattle Range – which neighbours Mt Gambier and stretches from the coast, through the Coonawarra wine district, to the Victorian border – saw an 83 per cent growth in the number of metro movers for the year to September 30,” Dr Houghton said.

The Queensland LGA of Douglas, which includes Port Douglas and Daintree, experienced the second-largest gain of 71 per cent over the 12-month period. This was followed by Port Augusta in South Australia and Moree Plains in NSW, both on 55 per cent, and Western Downs in QLD on 52 per cent.

The big coastal centres close to capital cities continued to attract the largest numbers of metro movers. QLD’s Gold Coast was again the most popular destination, followed by the Sunshine Coast, Greater Geelong in VIC, and then Wollongong and Lake Macquarie in NSW.

Many Melbourne residents chose to relocate to country and coastal towns in the year to September 30, 2021, accounting for 48 per cent of all capital city migration to the regions, surpassing Sydney on 47 per cent.

The Regional Movers Index, launched this year, tracks movements between Australia’s regions and capital cities, using Commonwealth Bank data from relocations amongst its 10 million customers. This enables early identification of growth trends and flags places emerging as hot spots needing fresh thinking on housing and infrastructure.

Notes for Editors:

Data based on CBA customer address changes over the past 5 years, and addresses resided in for at least 6 months. Greater Capital City/Regional Area based on ABS 1270.0.55.001 GCCSA. At least 100 persons must have migrated to LGA to be counted.