# City dwellers flock to regional Australia at pandemic pace

> Migration from Sydney and Melbourne to regional areas has hit levels not seen since COVID, with Queensland's tropics leading the surge.
- Title: City dwellers flock to regional Australia at pandemic pace
- Summary: Migration from Sydney and Melbourne to regional areas has hit levels not seen since COVID, with Queensland's tropics leading the surge. City-to-regional…
- Keywords: regional australia, city-to-regional migration, sunshine coast, sydney, melbourne, queensland, regional australia institute, news, politics, City, dwellers, flock
- Source: Abc — https://abc.net.au/news/2026-10-19/regional-australia-migration-trend-queensland-sydney-melbourne/107282696
- Published: 2026-10-19T08:42:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: regional australia, city-to-regional migration, sunshine coast, sydney, melbourne, queensland, regional australia institute, news, politics
## City exodus matches pandemic peak
The Regional Australia Institute says migration from capital cities to regional Australia during the June two thousand twenty-six quarter matched the record set in June two thousand twenty-one.
## Sydney and Melbourne lose most residents
Sydney accounted for fifty-two percent of the net population outflow to Australian regions in the June two thousand twenty-six quarter. Those moving to regions outnumbered those moving to cities by thirty percent.
## Sunshine Coast leads regional destinations
The Sunshine Coast remained the most favoured region for those leaving capital cities. In the twelve months to June two thousand twenty-six, it received eight point seven percent of total net migration share.
## Tropical north sees explosive growth
The Burdekin, south of Townsville, saw a two hundred thirty-eight percent annual increase in city movers.The Atherton Tablelands region, south of Cairns, received a one hundred thirty-one percent annual increase in residents from capital cities.
## Movers cite lifestyle and community
Retail operator Candace Young moved from Dalby to the Burdekin in two thousand twenty-three. She said customers from Victoria and Tasmania have moved to the shire, drawn by free outdoor activities and welcoming communities.

> Here, you can drive five minutes in any direction and take the kids fishing or camping, and those things are free activities.
## RAI calls for national population plan
Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie said the trend is a good-news story for Queensland. She said the RAI was lobbying to establish a national population plan to assist regional planning.

> It is a good-news story for Queensland.
## Key takeaway

City-to-regional migration in Australia has matched pandemic-era peaks, with Sydney and Melbourne losing residents fastest to Queensland's Sunshine Coast and tropical north.