City exodus to regional Australia hits pandemic-era peak again
City-to-regional migration matched pandemic-era records in June, with movers outnumbering reverse migration by 30 per cent.
Australians are fleeing Sydney and Melbourne for the regions at rates unseen since the COVID pandemic, new Commonwealth Bank data shows. The shift favoured the Sunshine Coast, which captured 8.7 per cent of total national migration in the past year.
Far north Queensland saw striking growth: the Burdekin south of Townsville recorded a 238 per cent annual jump in city migrants, while the Atherton Tablelands south of Cairns jumped 131 per cent. Victoria's Central Goldfields and the NSW Snowy Mountains were the most popular for people already living in regional Australia.
Regional Australia Institute chief Liz Ritchie said the trend shows people are measuring lifestyle over the long term, not just responding to pandemic chaos.
- 30 per cent
- Movers outnumbered reverse migration
- 8.7 per cent of total national
- Sunshine Coast migration share
- 238 per cent
- Burdekin annual city migrant increase
- 131 per cent
- Atherton Tablelands increase
Why it mattersMigration shapes housing demand, workforce availability and economic growth in regions, forcing councils and states to rethink infrastructure planning.
AustraliaQueensland, particularly tropical zones, is benefiting most; regional Australia is growing faster than capitals, reshaping the nation's population shape.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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