Sydney is losing thousands of people to the Gold Coast from Sydney and Melbourne
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Tens of thousands of Sydneysiders have had enough of the costs and stress of the NSW capital and have built a new life on the Gold Coast.
Census data shows one in 10 residents of dozens of beachside suburbs on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have moved there from Sydney or Melbourne in the past five years.
In total, almost 50,000 people moved to the Gold Coast from NSW and Victoria between 2016 and 2021.
Of those, 30,000 come from NSW, including 15,000 from the port city. About 12,000 came from Melbourne.
Tradie Mark Dee, 39, headed north from Sydney’s northern beaches with his daughter Paige in 2018 and would not return.
Sydneysiders have had enough of the expensive and boring harbor capital and are flocking north to the Gold Coast. In the photo: Surfers Paradise
Ex-Sydney tradie Mark Dee moved north in 2018 and the lifestyle is better and more affordable. Mr. Dee pictured with daughter Paige
He now lives in Tugun, where before 2016 10.4 per cent of residents lived in NSW or Victoria.
As many as 18.6 per cent of people from Coolangatta, on the NSW border, came from the southern states.
Mr Dee says life has never been better, with lifestyle and affordability the key differentiators.
“The weather is great, there’s so much to do, it’s just endless fun for kids,” the devoted single dad told Daily Mail Australia.
As a landscaper and self-employed cleaner in Sydney, he has found a job he loves with the Gold Coast Council and settled into life in Queensland.
Most importantly, his four-year-old daughter loves it too.
Over the past four days they went fishing, swimming, took a houseboat ride and went to a zoo. They’ve also visited the theme parks, although Paige isn’t big enough to ride roller coasters yet.
Mr Dee, a part-time DJ, recently did an evening set on the beach with Paige on his shoulders.
‘Paigey loves it here, she’s always smiling. It is so child-friendly everywhere and the schools are good too.’
‘The people are also friendlier and it’s just less stressful. Everyone seems to have more time to enjoy life.’
Mr Dee says he would never go back.
“Sydney is beautiful but unfortunately it has been ruined by the monetary demands,” he said.
‘It’s now only for the richest and most famous. If you are not a banker or lawyer, this is unfeasible in Sydney. I could never buy a house there.
The devoted dad says his daughter Paige is always smiling on the Gold Coast, where the pair regularly enjoy adventures such as his DJ sets and the theme parks
Queensland’s population grew by 34,545 people due to interstate migration, while NSW lost 31,560 to other states. Victoria lost 9,955 to other states.
The Gold Coast grew by 12.4 per cent over the past five years, while Brisbane’s population grew by 11.2 per cent.
About 15,000 people moved to the Sunshine Coast from NSW and 10,000 came from Victoria.