Surprise regional hub kicks Sunshine Coast from leading migration hotspot title

Famous coastal city Geelong has overtaken the Sunshine Coast to become the country’s most popular destination for migration.

Located 75km from Melbourne’s CBD, Geelong has now secured the lion’s share of regional Australia’s net internal migration after two years of Sunshine Coast dominance.

The latest Regional Movers Index report shows the greater Geelong local government area (LGA) had a 9.3% share of total net migration in the 12 months to March.

The Sunshine Coast, 100km north of Brisbane CBD, took 8.9% of net internal migration in the past year.

The report – a joint Commonwealth Bank and Regional Australia Institute (RAI) initiative – shows regional life in Australia is continuing to prove popular more than two years on from the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Net migration to regional Australia is now sitting 40% higher than the prevailing level in the pre-pandemic era,” RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie said.

“The nation’s love affair with regional life is showing no signs of abating with 25% more people moving from capital cities to the regions, than back in the opposite direction.”

Commonwealth Bank acting executive general manager of regional and agribusiness banking Josh Foster said Geelong was proving popular with buyers and renters thanks to both lifestyle and employment opportunities.

“Greater Geelong has become the star performer due to its idyllic location, established services and range of employment opportunities underpinned by significant government and corporate investment in the region,” he said.

To support the demand for housing in the popular area, the Victorian Government has a target of a further 128,600 homes to build in the LGA by 2051.

The latest PropTrack figures show a home in regional Victoria has a median price of just $575,000 – roughly a quarter of a million less than the national median home price.

Expensive properties on the Gold Coast push up the median price of regional Queensland homes. Picture: Getty

By comparison, a home in regional Queensland had a median price of $747,000 in the 12 months to April 2025, though figures include traditionally pricier Gold Coast region.

The value of homes in regional Victoria declined by 0.8% over the past year, while Queensland’s regional areas saw growth of 8.4%.

What you can buy in Geelong

The Geelong property market has ample opportunities for first-home buyers, downsizers and investors.

2 Murray Street, Newcomb

This two-bedroom, one-bathroom house in waterside Newcomb is located on the Bellarine Peninsula in Geelong’s south.

2 Murray Street. Picture: realestate.com.au

It is currently on the market with a price guide of $510,000-$550,000.

27 Pollard Drive, Leopold

Located further down the Bellarine Peninsula and ten minutes from Geelong CBD by train, this four-bedroom, two-bathroom new build house is positioned on a 603sqm lot.

27 Pollard Drive. Picture: realestate.com.au

The price guide for the home is $750,000-$795,000

3/10 Fitzroy Street, Geelong

Right in the heart of central Geelong is this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment within a secured gated complex.

3/10 Fitzroy Street. Picture: realestate.com.au

With a price guide of $370,000-$400,000, this property is just one block from the beach.

Keeping an eye on the Sunshine Coast

The varied areas on the Sunshine Coast are continuing to prove popular with city leavers, with opportunities for both beach lovers and those who prefer to live inland.