Where Australians really do move to escape the big city – even as bosses demand a return to the office

Australians are flocking to the coast of Queensland to flee the big city, even as bosses demand that staff return to the office.

Those who can work or relocate from home generally prefer a warmer climate by the beach, with the Sunshine Coast the number 1 choice for those relocating from the capitals, followed by the Gold Coast, Regional Australia has it Institute unveiled.

Coastal areas an hour’s drive from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney are especially appealing to those looking to escape the traffic congestion and noise.

While fewer people are moving out of a capital city compared to a year ago, more Australians are still opting for a change of sea or tree change than before the pandemic.

The number of Australians leaving the big city for the countryside is higher than the number leaving a regional area for a busy urban centre.

Of those moving from a major metropolitan area, 41 per cent moved to regional Queensland in the year to June 2023, up from 33 per cent in the 2021-22 financial year.

According to the local government area, the Queensland coast had two of the top five places, when it came to new residents moving out of the big smoke.

This took into account those moving from a regional area to a capital city.

The Sunshine Coast, stretching from Caloundra to Maroochydore and Noosa, had by far the largest share at 13 percent.

The Gold Coast, which includes Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise, was next with a share of 9.8 percent, just an hour’s drive from Brisbane.

Greater Geelong came in third, with a share of 5.6 percent, and this area covered the Bellarine Peninsula just an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

The Moorabool council area, which Ballan occupies between Ballarat and Melbourne, came fourth with a share of 5.3 per cent.

Lake Macquarie, which covers parts of the Central Coast and Newcastle north of Sydney, was fifth with a share of 4.9 percent.

Regional New South Wales was the destination of relocation for 33 per cent of those leaving a capital city, compared to Victoria’s 20 per cent.

The Commonwealth Bank, whose CEO Matt Comyn has been trying to have staff return to the office two or three days a week, said the regional move was based on where the jobs were.

Paul Fowler, managing director of the Commonwealth Bank for regional banking and agribusiness, said jobs, lifestyle and more affordable housing attracted more people.

“Mobility across the country continues to be supported by employment in the regions,” he said.

“Growth in local economies and opportunities in sectors such as wholesale, manufacturing, health and education will continue to attract people to regional areas

“We expect regional areas to continue to attract urban movers as both commercial companies in core industries and agribusiness step up their pursuit of workers.”

The Gold Coast, which includes Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise, was next with a share of 9.8 percent, just an hour’s drive from Brisbane

Greater Geelong ranked third, with a share of 5.6 percent, and this area covered the Bellarine Peninsula just an hour’s drive from Melbourne

When it came to overall internal migration within Australia, both for those moving from a capital city and from regional areas, the Fraser Coast ranked fourth with Hervey Bay with a share of 6.5 per cent.

The Sunshine Coast was first with a share of 16.6 percent, followed by the Gold Coast with 9.4 percent and Geelong with 8.3 percent.

The Regional Australia Index data was based on data from Commonwealth Bank’s 16 million customers.

The share of people moving from a capital city to a regional area fell from 12 percent in June 2022 to 11.1 percent in June 2023.

In comparison, 9.6 percent of people moved from a regional area to a capital city, compared to 9.4 percent.

But the share of people moving from a major city to a regional area is still 16.3 percent above the levels of 2018 and 2019 before the Covid pandemic.