Tree-changers seeking smaller communities for new lives

By Tom Wark

Migration from capital cities to the regions remains strong years after the COVID-19 pandemic and in many cases, the smaller the area, the bigger the population boom.

Southern regions far from urban commuter belts are the fastest-growing destinations for internal migration, according to research by the Regional Australia Institute.

But many city slickers are still hesitant to completely go bush, as population growth in many boom regional areas is driven by those already out of the capital cities.

The Meander Valley, near Devonport in northern Tasmania, recorded a fivefold increase in net internal migration in the year to December 2025, the institute’s Regional Movers Index found.

However, the area’s popularity was largely driven by other regional residents, with most of the increase in relocations from people not living in capital cities.

Other small but booming hubs such as Loddon, near Bendigo, and Bridgetown-Greenbushes in southwest Western Australia recorded migration rises of more than 400 per cent, largely driven by other regional residents.

The Sunshine Coast remained the destination of choice for capital city dwellers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

“Regional movers are going further out from the Sunshine Coast in search of affordability,” the institute’s chief executive Liz Ritchie said.

Housing affordability remains a key driver for those looking outside the confines of Australia’s cities, with recent CommBank data showing a quarter of first-home buyers making their first purchase in a regional location.

Price crunches are slowing the rate of growth in some of the traditionally most-popular relocation stations.

The Gold Coast, Geelong and Lake Macquarie all recorded slower migration growth in the year to December, suggesting movers are seeking value even further away from the capitals.

With numbers set to continue rising, the institute wants more support for regional infrastructure to cope with the influx.

“The (institute) remains committed to seeing ’40 for the Regions’ – a 40 per cent carve out for regional Australia that will see workforce, housing and share of voice delivered to regional Australia,” Ms Ritchie said.