Revealed: Hottest place in Qld for interstate movers

Population flow into regional Australia is at its highest level in more than two years with a Queensland area attracting the largest share of movers over the past year. SEE THE DATA

Aerial image of Kings Beach, Caloundra.

Population flow into regional Australia is at its highest level in more than two years, with the Sunshine Coast attracting the largest share of movers from the capitals over the past year.

The overall popularity of the Sunshine Coast local government area is slowing, but it has held its top spot by share of total net internal migration to regional Australia in the 12 months to the September quarter, in the latest Regional Movers Index report.

The Gold Coast has long been a popular place for interstate migration.

But the Gold Coast has dropped from its firmly held top five position into eighth place.

The two coasts were in the top five locations for city dwellers seeking a regional lifestyle change over the 12 months, while the Scenic Rim was one of fastest-growing regional areas attracting those from capital cities during the September quarter.

The Sunshine Coast again proved to be the most attractive for regional movers, while Toowoomba re-entered the top five for the first time since late-2023 in fourth, followed by Townsville.

The RMI, a partnership between the Regional Australia Institute and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, found the divergence in internal migration flows had resulted in a 23.4 per cent

increase in the net migration index to regional areas – the highest level since March-2022.

CBA Regional and Agribusiness Banking Executive General Manager Paul Fowler said the influx to the regions had become such a sustained trend it was now a “new norm”.

“We know that regional job vacancies remain at very high levels … so for those people … considering the option of moving from the cities to the regions, there are really plentiful and rewarding job opportunities,” he said.

Surfers along Noosa Main Beach.

“A life in our regions can be more affordable, and as cost of living pressures impact more Australians, the financial benefits, together with the strong job economy, I think, is creating that pull factor.”

Mr Fowler said the Sunshine Coast’s liveability and the strength of its economy was sustaining its attractiveness.

“We’re seeing our business customers across the Sunshine Coast continue to invest and seek to grow their businesses,” he said.

“I think as the state of Queensland prepares for the Olympics, you’ll continue to see investment flowing into the southeast of the state.”

But Mr Fowler said the growing popularity of regional residents moving to Townsville and Toowoomba showed the state’s economy also had diversity.

He said Toowoomba was coming off several strong agriculture seasons, while Townsville’s mining and manufacturing sectors were growing in hand with significant infrastructure spends on major infrastructure projects like CopperString 2032.

“I feel like it’s a very optimistic and positive story for Queensland,” he said.

“As we look across the nation, we’re seeing very strong growth in terms of our customers investing behind their businesses, positioning themselves to grow operations, grow capacity, and serve the demand of both their state market, but also to serve markets across the country.”

Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie said given the regions’ ongoing strong growth it was vital that they remained top-of-mind for decision-makers.

“Regional Australia is truly the nation’s new frontier,” she said.

“There are so many opportunities in our regional communities, but likewise we know there are challenges.

“Housing for example remains a key ongoing concern in many communities.

“Regional Australia is growing and for that to continue we need adequate foundations.”

Belinda Wilson with family Ben, Iaasc, 8, and Charlotte, 2. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Belinda Wilson, who moved from Melbourne to Palmview on the Sunshine Coast, sang regional Queensland’s praises.

“We live in the best place in the world – it’s just paradise,” she said.

“I think moving up here we have a better lifestyle, it’s more outdoors, it’s more family-orientated, you just feel better about your day.

“You wake up early because it’s light, everyone is outdoors, everyone is active, everyone is happy.”

Ms Wilson said life in Queensland was a lot more relaxed than it was in Melbourne.

“Melbourne is just becoming so busy,” she said.

“In Melbourne, everyone is so caught up in the busyness of life and I think up here you are just able to have a little bit more balance in life.”

Ms Wilson could understand why people were moving to Queensland in droves.

“I’m not surprised, a lot more people have just decided to make the change,” she said.

“I think people have just decided to make the change and take a plunge.

“It is scary to move, but the reward of moving is so much greater than the fear of change.”