Ceduna, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta lead Australia for migration

Young people are moving to regional SA at a higher rate than any other remote area in the country, with three cities leading the nation. Here’s why.

Young people are fleeing the big smoke and moving to regional South Australian towns at a higher rate than any other country area in Australia, a new report shows.

Ceduna, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta have emerged as Australia’s top regional hot spots for young people moving away from capital cities to take advantage of low house prices.

As Adelaide plummeted 27 spots in the global liveability rankings, the latest Regional Movers Index report released on Thursday showed Ceduna had a huge 114 per cent spike in capital-to-regional migration in the 12 months to March.

Mount Gambier recorded an annual growth of 85 per cent of people moving from capital cities, while Port Augusta grew by 74 per cent in the same period.

The SA towns took the top three spots in the country for annual migration growth, leading Western Downs in Queensland and Moorabool in Victoria.

The report, published by the Regional Australia Institute and Commonwealth Bank, found the average age of new Ceduna residents was 31, while it was 29 in both Mount Gambier and Port Augusta.

People are flocking to Ceduna at a higher rate than any other regional town in the country.

Paul Fowler, the executive general manager of regional and agribusiness at Commonwealth Bank, said regional SA was becoming more attractive for young people.

“I was in Mount Gambier earlier this year and I was able to see the thriving business community there,” Mr Fowler said.

“It’s a very diverse local economy, and whether that be the strength of the agricultural industry, which is really thriving, but also trickling through to broader commercial industries.”

Mr Fowler said manufacturing, hospitality and retail industries were all booming in Mount Gambier.

“We’re seeing healthcare and broader social infrastructure being invested around (there), so I look at Mount Gambier as a great example of regional Australian cities that are really thriving and benefiting from the broader economic conditions,” he said.

Mount Gambier recorded a huge 69 per cent migration growth in just the March quarter alone, while Ceduna grew by 59 per cent in the same period.

Mount Gambier has emerged as a regional hot spot for young people.

The report pointed to affordable homes as another major drawcard to country SA, revealing regional SA’s median dwelling price was “well below all other states”.

It also revealed SA’s regional boom was not at the expense of Adelaide’s population, which remained steady with 0 per cent net capital-to-regional migration for the year to March.

“What we’re seeing in major metropolitan outflow is it continues to be Sydney and Melbourne rather than Adelaide in the data,” Mr Fowler said.

“My sense is the Adelaide business community is absolutely thriving (and) the opportunities for younger cohorts is great.”

New concerning data from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia showed people living in Mount Gambier had among some of the lowest average super balances, leaving them vulnerable when they retire.

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Originally published as Ceduna, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta lead Australia for migration