Toowoomba is proving to be a destination of choice for people from regional Australia looking for a new home.
According to the latest Regional Movers Index report Toowoomba is now among the top five regional towns that residents from other regional areas are moving to.
The report found that Australia’s large regional hubs are proving most attractive for regional movers, with centres such as Maitland, Greater Geelong and Toowoomba attracting the largest share of net inflows from other regions.
The Sunshine Coast remains the most popular destination for inter-regional migration.
Maitland secured second place with a 5.5 per cent share, achieving the highest annual growth among the Top Five at 16 per cent, and Greater Geelong held steady in third with a 4.5 per cent share.
Toowoomba has re-entered the Top Five for the first time since late 2023, claiming fourth with a 4.1 per cent share while Townsville rounded out the Top Five.
The Regional Movers Index, which is a partnership between the Regional Australia Institute and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, analyses trends in people moving to and from Australia’s regional areas.
Though regional-to-regional relocations slowed down this quarter, the bulk of movers were attracted to larger centres like Toowoomba.
The current report reveals city dwellers are continuing to relocate out of metropolitan areas while regional Australians are increasingly staying put.
Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie said data from the September 2024 quarter report shows city-to-regional relocations are now sitting at 19.8 per cent above the pre-Covid average and 1.8 per cent above the average recorded during the height of lockdowns.
“In contrast, the inter-regional migration index – which tracks regional to regional relocations – has fallen by 5.1 per cent, suggesting that more regional residents are content to stay where they are,” Ms Ritchie said.
“With the continuing strong jobs market across regional Australia, increasing city property prices and ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it’s no surprise the regions remain desirable.”
CBA Executive General Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking Paul Fowler said Toowoomba appealed as a new home for a number of reasons.
“Toowoomba provides economic and infrastructure benefits akin to major cities,’’ said Mr Fowler.
“Located under a two-hour drive from Brisbane’s CBD and Ipswich, it offers an affordable option with a strong education hub, healthcare sector and demand for construction trade services helping to generate promising local employment prospects and lifestyle benefits for residents.”
The report also reveals 35.6 per cent more people are moving from capital cities to the regions, than back in the opposite direction.
Ms 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. The time to lay them is now.”
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