Mapped: Geelong suburbs with highest population growth

A couple says they’ve found their happy place after a stroke and falling victim to a con led them to Geelong. They are among thousands of people moving to the city each year.

Veronika and Simon Fabian moved to Geelong in August 2023 as the city’s population continues to grow. Picture: Brad Fleet

A series of unfortunate events led Veronika and Simon Fabian to making their new home in St Albans Park in August last year.

The pair were preceded by an estimated 7200 people who moved to the Geelong region in the 2022-23 financial year.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed Geelong had an estimated 2.2 per cent increase in population in that period.

Mr Fabian said they were living in Coffs Harbour, NSW, when he had a stroke at Easter time last year.

He said subsequent health issues were a wake-up call and he had an out of body experience.

“I knew my life had to change,” he said.

Mr Fabian said he was also conned by a family member into selling his house so for a time had no where to live.

“Coffs Harbour has a major ice and street violence problem as well,” he said.

The 53-year-old said the couple then moved to Geelong, where his eldest daughter Sarah also lived, and now had no plans to move.

“I love Geelong,” he said.

Professor Louise Johnson, of Deakin University’s Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, said Geelong had experienced decades of disturbance in the past, with economic restructure and changes to the manufacturing industry.

She said the turnaround started with big money and effort going into reviving the waterfront which was a tired industrial area with no vibrant retail.

“It didn’t reverse a long period of decline but it did slow the outflow,” she said.

“The big one is Covid and lockdowns which accelerated the growth trend and sustained it.”

Prof Johnson said quality of schools and health services, less traffic than Melbourne and cheaper housing meant Geelong was a viable option for people to move to from the city and from regional areas.

She said improved connectivity between Melbourne and Geelong with the Geelong Ring Rd, the highway and the railway meant it was just as easy, if not easier, for people to travel between the two as it was to travel across the capital city.

“New technology means people work from home and they can choose to live further away from the city if they wish, where it is less frenetic,” she said.

Professor Louise Johnson of Deakin’s Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation says Covid accelerated a trend of people moving to Geelong. Picture: Supplied

Geelong’s growth rate increased year on year with an estimated 6800 people moving to the city in the 2021-22 financial year and 6600 the financial year prior.

The Barwon Heads and Armstrong Creek area of Geelong experienced the most growth, with an estimated nine per cent increase in population in the 2022-23 financial year.

Charlemont had the second highest with 7.3 per cent estimated growth, followed by Portarlington at 3.6 per cent and Lara at 3.4 per cent.

Only two areas experienced a drop in population, including Lorne and Anglesea seeing a decline of 58 people and a decrease of 94 in Newcomb and Moolap, corresponding to 0.9 and 0.6 per cent of the population respectively.

Norlane, and North Geelong and Bell Park were the only areas of no change.

Peri-Urban Councils Victoria chair Michael Leaney said a recent Regional Australia Institute Regional People Movers Index showed people leaving Melbourne in large numbers in favour of peri-urban living.

“People are seeking to escape congestion and rising housing prices and rentals in Melbourne in favour of a better-balanced lifestyle while remaining close to the state capital,” he said.

“The impact of Covid-19 and technological developments to enable more people to work from home, have increased the pace of migration to Victoria’s regions – particularly those that are considered a commutable distance.”

The Baw Baw Shire councillor said growth meant opportunities to provide new jobs, social and community infrastructure and services to improve quality of life for residents.

Peri-Urban Councils Victoria chair and Baw Baw Shire councillor Michael Leaney says more investment is needed for infrastructure to keep up with population growth in peri-urban cities like Geelong. Picture: Supplied

“However, an appropriate level of government investment is required to capitalise on these opportunities,” he said.

“Growth has an impact on housing prices and rental costs while also putting additional stress on existing community infrastructure including roads and telecommunications.

Mr Leaney said it was critical peri-urban areas received an equitable share of funding to reflect their growth and important role in Victoria’s future. 

“Growth is happening today, the longer we let this gap grow the greater the challenge will be tomorrow,” he said.

Prof Johnson said infrastructure was expensive and tended not to keep up with residential growth.

“With endless suburban expansion the lag will get worse and there’s a huge challenge to have social and physical infrastructure,” she said.

“It creates huge strain on public transport, health and education, and it's a problem across the state as we have rapid growth and cannot keep up.”

Veronika and Simon Fabian who moved to Geelong in August 2023 cannot envision moving away. Picture: Brad Fleet

Mr Fabian, who is semi-retired, said Geelong was more financially accessible.

“It would cost $200,000 more in Coffs Harbour for the same sized house in Geelong,” he said.

“The quality of people in Geelong is different too, they are much nicer and courteous here.

“Being closer to a farming area means it more quiet too which is peaceful.”

Mr Fabian said while he wasn’t yet used to the winter cold of Victoria he could picture the pair staying in Geelong forever.

“There’s lovely beaches, good cafes, more choices – I wouldn’t move,” he said.

Originally published as Mapped: Geelong suburbs with highest population growth