Geelong Tops Australia Regional Migration, Surpassing Sunshine Coast

Greater Geelong has emerged as Australia's leading regional destination for internal migration, overtaking Queensland's Sunshine Coast with a 9.3 percent share of net internal migration. This rise is fueled by Geelong's attractive location, strong employment opportunities across blue and white-collar sectors, and significant government and corporate investments, including major infrastructure projects like the Geelong Convention Centre and Barwon’s Women and Children’s Hospital expansion. The Victorian government has set a target to add 128,600 dwellings by 2051 to accommodate growing housing demand. Migration trends indicate a sustained shift from capital cities to regional areas, with Sydney and Melbourne residents being major contributors to this movement, and net migration to regional Australia remaining 40 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels. Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritchie highlighted that contemporary regional areas like Geelong offer diverse communities, robust economies, and lifestyles that are increasingly dispelling outdated negative perceptions. Businesses such as Gouge Linen and Garment Services are capitalizing on Geelong's growth potential, expanding operations and workforce in the region, supported by financial institutions like the Commonwealth Bank.