The latest Regional Movers Index (RMI) report reveals the emergence of several new regional hotspots, as communities beyond the traditional ‘commuter belt’ surge in popularity for newcomers.
RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Gympie in Queensland, Richmond Valley and Wingecarribee in New South Wales and East Gippsland in Victoria have made their debut as hotspots in the December 2024 quarter RMI report, highlighting relocators’ appetite for destinations further afield.
“The desire for regional living remains strong, with 32% more people moving from big cities to regions than in the opposite direction, building on pre-existing data, which shows the nation’s migration patterns are changing,” Ms Ritchie said.
“Regional Australia is the new frontier, and people are enthusiastic about the career opportunities and lifestyle benefits it offers. The RMI’s net migration index, which measures net population flows into regional Australia, is now sitting nearly 51% above the pre-COVID average.
“The emergence of new mover hotspots further out shows this increase of population into Australia’s regions is not isolated to a couple of places, rather that it’s happening all over the country. It’s why we must ensure communities have the infrastructure, funding and support they need to ensure they can continue to welcome new residents.”
The RMI is a partnership between the RAI and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), which analyses quarterly and annual trends in people moving to and from Australia’s regional areas.
This latest report signifies a change in mover preferences, with communities such as Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, which has been the nation’s most popular regional mover destination for nine consecutive quarters, gradually reducing its share of net internal migration.
CBA’s Acting Executive Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking, Josh Foster, said whilst the Sunshine Coast remains a firm favourite, other communities in the Sunshine State are gaining movers like Gladstone, Toowoomba, Fraser Coast, Mackay and Gympie.
“The lure of the Sunshine State has long attracted both city and regional movers, with the latest RMI proving the appeal of a scenic and often more balanced lifestyle extends beyond metropolitan areas, bringing renewed economic and social benefits to other areas of the state.
“This quarter saw the rise in popularity of several new growth hotspots within regional Queensland, demonstrating the diversification of the state’s economy. Fraser Coast’s deep roots in agriculture and Gladstone’s mining and green energy boom are just some of the sectors helping drive increased employment opportunities to these regions. With lower-than-average employment rates and limited housing supply, more investment is needed in construction, manufacturing and property development to support these growing communities.”
Mr Foster added: “Continued development in roads and transport infrastructure like the Gympie bypass, are also integral to improving accessibility to these thriving regions and offer businesses a commercial opportunity to expand or relocate beyond major metro areas. CBA is working closely with local government, key industries and business customers to unlock new areas of investment across the state.”
Regional New South Wales and Victoria accounted for 71% of all net regional inflows in the December 2024 quarter, while Queensland’s share stood at 19% and there were small gains in regional South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.
Sydneysiders continue to lead the charge into the regions, accounting for 59% of net city outflows, down from 65% in the 2023 December quarter. Whilst Melbournians now account for 40% of net city outflows, up from 35% a year ago.
Ms Ritchie said this quarter’s report also highlighted city-dwellers are increasingly relocating to areas which have previously been more popular with regional movers, like Greater Bendigo and Maitland.
“It’s critical that decision-makers note this important, contemporaneous data to ensure plans can be made, both now and into the future for these growing communities. The better we are able to project Australia’s population movements, the better we can prepare for them, ensuring the needed skills and services are in the right place, at the right time,” Ms Ritchie said.
Mr Foster said regional Western Australia also continues to exhibit a strong lure for movers, including Albany, Bunbury, Harvey, Capel and York.
“Of note, Bunbury in the southwest corner of Western Australia has retained its position as the nation’s fastest growing hotspot for capital movers over the 12-month period to December 2024. The area’s appeal has been supercharged by major infrastructure developments such as the completion of the Wilman Wadandi Highway, helping ease travel times between city-to-region.
“The RMI has also shown that in this past quarter, people are willing to go further afield with the south coast LGA of Albany recording the third highest growth in net internal migration. Located almost five hours drive from Perth, Albany offers an idyllic lifestyle, reliable healthcare and education services, as well as strong employment opportunities across several sectors including agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy and tourism.”
Mr Foster concluded: “This latest RMI proves that the great regional migration is being felt deep within our regions, with the economic and lifestyle gains no longer contained to areas within commuting distance. With the right commercial and industry investments, this offers a win-win for consumers as well as businesses.”
The December 2024 quarter saw a seasonal reduction in internal migration across all mover types, as people tend to stay put in the last three months of the year, with capital-to-regional migration as measured by the Regional Movers Index (RMI) down by 11%.
Despite lower mobility across the country, capital-to-regional relocations remains 8% higher than the pre-COVID average and 3% higher than a year ago.
The reduction also of regional-to-regional and regional-to-capital relocations, suggests more regional movers are choosing to settle where they are, rather than relocate elsewhere.
Access the RMI December 2024 quarter report