The first quarter of 2025 has reaffirmed a trend that’s been reshaping Australia’s population map since the pandemic: more people are leaving capital cities and putting down roots in the regions. According to the latest Regional Movers Index — a quarterly report produced by the Regional Australia Institute in partnership with Commonwealth Bank — migration from capital cities to regional areas rose by 10.5% in the March quarter.
This surge keeps capital-to-regional migration at levels around 20% higher than pre-COVID norms, a continuation of the significant lifestyle and affordability shifts sparked during the pandemic. In fact, the report shows that people moving from cities to the regions outnumber those going in the opposite direction by 25%, fuelling long-term population growth and economic opportunity for regions like ours.
Here in the Murray region, this matters. As more city-dwellers seek affordability, space, and lifestyle advantages, we’re seeing growing interest in our local government areas. These trends open up vital conversations around housing, workforce development, childcare access, and long-term infrastructure investment — all priorities in RDA Murray’s strategic planning.
Notably, nearly three-quarters of all net migration to regional Australia is flowing into regional New South Wales and Victoria — with Sydneysiders and Melburnians accounting for the lion’s share of the outflow. That positions the Murray region as a key landing point for those making a tree change, particularly given our connectivity, lifestyle offering, and cross-border infrastructure.
As the Murray region continues to grow, RDA Murray remains committed to supporting new residents, employers, and communities through evidence-based planning, practical programs like The Welcome Experience, and ongoing advocacy to ensure that our region receives the strategic investment and support needed to thrive.
For more information or to connect with RDA Murray’s regional programs and services, contact us at [email protected] or call (02) 6060 2491.
