Revealed: The regional hotspots where Australians are relocating

The trend of Australians moving from cities to the regions continues to grow beyond pre-pandemic levels and is becoming a "sustained population trend", according to the Regional Movers Index.

The Sunshine Coast recorded the highest net internal migration in Australia. Credit: holgs/Getty Images

Key Points

• The number of Australians moving from cities to the regions continues to grow.
• Regional NSW and regional Victoria attract most city movers.
• The Sunshine Coast was the nation’s most popular destination for movers.

The nation’s love affair with regional Australia continues to grow as the population flow from cities to regions measures around 16 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, according to the Regional Movers Index — a report by Commonwealth Bank of Australia and the Regional Australia Institute.

The report’s findings show that in the last June quarter, 27 per cent more people moved from cities to regional Australia than in the other direction.

And over the course of the year there was a new flow of 11.2 per cent of movers heading from cities to the regions.

Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie said: "Regional Australia has become the nation’s new frontier. This analysis is clearly showing the population movement we’re seeing is a sustained new trend, that is higher than pre-Covid migration patterns."

The Gold Coast featured in the top five Local Government Areas for net internal migration, but this was significantly down on previous years. Credit: shannonstent/Getty Images

This year’s trends

Around three-quarters of city dwellers moving to the regions have settled in NSW or Victoria over the past twelve months, up from half of all movers last year.

Regional NSW accounted for the largest share of all net regional inflows at 42 per cent.

Regional Queensland was the most popular moving destination last year but accounted for only 19 per cent of moves this year.

Sydney-siders and Melburnians led the exodus to the regions whereas Perth and Brisbane attracted net-inflows of migration at six and three per cent respectively.

Popular hotspots

The study measured the per centage of people leaving and arriving in Local Government Areas and found that the Sunshine Coast was the area with the highest net internal migration.

Credit: SBS News

Lake Macquarie in NSW emerged onto the hotspot list for the first time.

Neighbouring Local Government Areas of Bega Valley and Eurobodalla both experienced strong annual and quarterly growth.

Three of the five fastest growing Local Government Areas were in Western Australia, including the south western port and town of Albany. Credit: Walter Bibikow/Getty Images

The report noted that three of the five fasted growing Local Government Areas were in Western Australia (Albany, Bunbury and Northam) with Bega Valley in NSW topping the list.

Reflecting on the data, Ritchie said, "the regions provide so much: affordability, a sense of community, fulfilling career options and green space. Let’s ensure this new era of regionality is met with vision and leadership to drive a more decentralised Australia."