Geelong sees surge in new arrivals from capital cities

Internal migration to Geelong has increased almost 20 per cent year on year. Picture: Alan Barber

Geelong has seen an almost 20 per cent increase in the amount of people moving to the region from other parts of Australia this year.

The latest CBA Regional Australia Institute Regional Movers Index revealed the 19.2 per cent annual jump in migration to Geelong from capital cities and other regional areas.

But Greater Geelong dropped to second place among the most-popular destinations behind Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The report revealed Geelong took an 8.4 per cent share of the movement of people to regional areas, while the Sunshine Coast reached 8.9 per cent.

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It reversed the March result, where Geelong was the most popular destination.

The report counts net internal migration including the flow of people from other regions and capital cities, minus the number of people leaving a region.

It revealed a 15 per cent drop in overall relocations in the three months to June, though the flow of people to regional areas was 26 per cent higher than people moving in reverse.

The Index shows how much people leaving the big capital cities boosted regional populations, with Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing the Sunshine Coast, Geelong and the Gold Coast are the fastest-growing areas in regional Australia.

While overseas migration was the main contributor on the Gold Coast and had some influence in Geelong and the Sunshine Coast, internal migration was the largest contributor in the latter.

Geelong accounts for 40 per cent of Victoria’s regional population growth in 2023-24, the ABS reports.

Geelong accounts for 40 per cent of migration in regional Victoria. Picture: Alan Barber

Jellis Craig Geelong director Marcus Falconer said people were leaving Sydney and Melbourne for a better lifestyle.

“We’ve had a lot of people that are basically sick of the traffic in Melbourne. And the crime,” Mr Falconer said.

“Geelong has one of the biggest concentrations of schools on a per capita basis, one of the biggest health districts in Australia and you’re moments from one of the best surf beaches in the world.

“It’s the ultimate lifestyle position and it’s an easy commute to Melbourne if you work from there.

“But it’s got its own professional workforce as the economy is moving ahead at a rate of knots.”

Jellis Craig Geelong agent Marcus Falconer said people are leaving the big cities for a better lifestyle.

Mr Falconer said the rising population was also drawing interstate property investors to the region, given home prices in Sydney, Queensland and Perth had continued to rise while Victoria remained subdued over the past two years.

PropTrack’s latest Home Price Index has shown the results of rising buyer demand.

Senior economist Eleanor Creagh said the re-acceleration in home prices was in part driven by the region’s lifestyle appeal driving above-average city to region migration to Geelong.

“That value migration story that really reshaped demand patterns during the pandemic is still resonating with affordability at or close to historically low levels. Many are choosing to become more flexible with location,” she said.

Regional Australia Institute chief executive officer Liz Ritchie, second right, said moving to regional Australia is a smart choice. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Sydney accounted for 60 per cent of regional movers, with 35 per cent Melburnians.

Regional Victoria, accounted for 23 per cent of the net migration from capital cities.

Top-performing centres in the June quarter included Albury, which had a 16-fold increase in migration, Bendigo and Shepparton, which are attracting new residents with their affordability, lifestyle, and opportunities.

“Regional Australia is no longer a second choice – it’s the smart choice. From career opportunities to community connection, the regions are delivering,” said Liz Ritchie, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute.

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