Australia’s Migration Trends: Where Are People Moving To?

Australia’s Migration Trends: Where Are People Moving To?

Data consultancy, Data Army, delved into the Australia Post Movers Statistics dataset to understand where people are migrating to within Australia and predicting where they’re likely to move to next.

We explain the data visualisations created and documented in our previous blog How to Predict Migration Patterns using Auspost Movers Statistics Data and Snowflake’s Cortex ML functions>

By analysing movements and observing trends, we’re able to gather valuable insights to inspire decisions with data-driven intelligence.

How to Interpret the Data Visualisations

The visualisations below show the net migration metric for all Australian states.

Net migration is calculated by forecasting the number of people moving into an area subtracted by the number of people people moving out of an area.

White, grey and lighter blue colours indicate regions with lower net migration, representing regions where a high number of people are leaving the regions and a lower number of people are relocating into these regions.

Mid to darker blue colours represent regions with higher net migration, regions where the number of people moving to those regions outweigh the number of people leaving those regions.

The Results by State

 

New South Wales (NSW)

In NSW, prior to the pandemic, the light blue areas in the inner city areas indicate there was some movement in inner city areas including Chatswood, the Sydney Central Business District (CBD) and areas just west of the city.

However, there was a much higher level of migration into the areas much further west of the city including Penrith and Blaxland, as well as Newcastle.

The trend of moving away from the city has further increased since the COVID pandemic in NSW, where areas very close to the city show the lowest forecasted net migration in the state.

This indicates that people are moving away from the city. Some possible explanations for these movements could be due to rising rents or potentially due to the fact that they no longer need to live within metropolitan areas for work.

In NSW, rural areas south of the city close to Canberra such as Goulburn, and rural areas north of Newcastle such as Taree are the regions with the highest amount of forecasted net migration as shown by the visualisations below.

NSW Pre-COVID
NSW Post-COVID

Figure 1: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for New South Wales

Victoria

A similar trend can be observed in Victoria. Both pre- and post-pandemic, the areas which had the lowest net migration were the inner city Melbourne suburbs of Brunswick, North Melbourne and Fitzroy.

However, prior to the pandemic, the areas with the highest forecasted net migration was Geelong and the south coast of Melbourne.

Post-COVID, the areas with the highest forecasted migration are even further away, possibly indicating these coastal areas are now also less desirable or unaffordable.

These include rural areas including Warragul and Taree. Greenfield suburbs just north of the city including Sunbury also have high levels of forecasted migration.

VIC Pre-COVID
VIC Post-COVID

Figure 2: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Victoria

Queensland

Like Melbourne, the forecasts for net migration in the inner city part of Brisbane is relatively similar both pre- and post-pandemic.

The inner city areas have low levels of forecasted net migration.

Interestingly, the highest amount of forecasted migration in Queensland prior to the pandemic was in the Gold Coast, which is only approximately an hour from Brisbane CBD.

Post-pandemic, areas further west of the Brisbane city including Ipswich, and Harrisville have higher levels of forecasted migration.

This could be indicative of people from Queensland relocating, but could also suggest people from interstate or overseas moving from other locations to places west of the city.

There is also a high level of migration predicted for the Sunshine Coast post-pandemic, further highlighting the trend also observed in Sydney and Melbourne of people moving into more rural areas.

QLD Pre-COVID
QLD Post-COVID

Figure 3: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Queensland

South Australia

South Australia, unlike NSW, Victoria and Queensland is one of the few states where the highest forecasted pre-pandemic net migration was in an inner-city area.

However, the trend to relocate to rural areas was very high post-pandemic. Rural areas including Kangaroo Island, Murray Bridge and Clare had much higher forecasted net migration after the pandemic. This supports the trend observed in the other states.

SA Pre-COVID
SA Post-COVID

Figure 4: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for South Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is one of the few states where the forecasted net migration into rural areas is not high.

The pre-COVID migration forecasts indicate the highest level of net migration were in the Perth City area and post-COVID the highest amount of net migration was just south of the city.

One possible reason for this could be that while Perth house prices and rents have been rising, they are still much lower than Sydney or Melbourne, and therefore is still affordable for people to be able to live close to the city.

Secondly, as mining is the predominant industry in Western Australia, it is possible that it is not feasible for many of these workers to move and work remotely.

WA Pre-COVID
WA Post-COVID

Figure 5: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Western Australia

Tasmania

Tasmania is the only Australian state where the amount of net migration into the inner city forecasts are higher post-covid as compared to pre-COVID.

Prior to COVID , Hobart had the lowest net migration compared to all other regions in Tasmania. However, post-COVID the amount of met migration in the CBD is higher, indicating people are moving into Hobart.

Similarly, the amount of forecasted migration into Launceston, Tasmania’s second biggest city, is higher post-COVID as compared to pre-COVID.

The reason that the same rural migration has not been seen in Tasmania, unlike other states, could be because of Tasmania’s population.

Hobart’s population is only approximately 250,000 which is smaller than rural areas that people were migrating to including the Sunshine Coast.

Thus, the high rental and accommodation costs that are evident in highly populated cities, including Sydney or Melbourne may not be evident in Tasmania.

TAS Pre-COVID
TAS Post-COVID

Figure 6: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Tasmania

​Summary of Findings

In the period post-COVID there is high evidence of people migrating to rural areas, especially in states with larger CBDs such as New South Wales, Victoria and Brisbane.

Interestingly, in these states, people seemed to be migrating to outer-city areas even prior to the pandemic.

This may suggest that there were factors encouraging people to move out of the city. This trend seems to have increased further since COVID.

Overall, there is a clear trend in the two most populated states, New South Wales and Victoria for net migration into rural areas.

These were the two states that were most affected by COVID lockdowns in Australia and have the highest house prices in the country which may be one of the key the drivers behind the high level of relocation to rural areas.

Less populated states including South Australia and Queensland have experienced a similar trend with high levels of net migration to rural areas including Kangaroo Island, Clare and the Sunshine Coast.

The only states that haven’t experienced net migration to rural areas are Western Australia and Tasmania.

A Reflection of Australia’s Housing Situation

Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis where steep house prices prevent many first-home buyers from entering the market, especially in inner-city areas.

Driven by the low supply of rentals and high post-pandemic migration, rents continue to skyrocket in many metropolitan cites.

In Australia’s most populous metropolitan areas Sydney and Melbourne, rents rose by 10.2% and 11.1%1 from December 2022 to December 2023 respectively.

Since 2020, the COVID pandemic has transformed the workplace environment, by forcing some office workers to do their job remotely due to lockdowns and government restrictions.

To this day, some office workers continue to work remotely full or part time, meaning that when picking a place to live, they may not need to prioritise being within a reasonable commuting distance from their usual physical office.

The combination of unaffordable rents and mortgages in inner city areas and increase in work from home trends may have contributed to many Australians migrating to outer-city and rural locations.

Strategic Insights

The findings hold significant strategic value for both the private and public sectors.

Incorporating these insights alongside additional data points, such as overseas migration into Australia, enriches the analysis, providing a more comprehensive understanding of migration patterns.

This broader perspective can enhance strategic planning and decision-making processes across various industries and governmental levels.

Examples include real estate development, investment, business expansion, transportation and infrastructure decisions, as well as urban, land use, policy or even healthcare and public services planning.

These findings can offer a foundation for both private and public sectors to adapt to changing demographic patterns in a way that maximises economic opportunities while ensuring community well-being and sustainability.

About The Analysis

Data Army used the Australian Post Movers Statistics dataset to base the forecasts in migration patterns during and after the COVID pandemic in each Australian state.

The primary dataset used in this study is the Australia Post Movers Statistics. It contains de-identified and aggregated data on moves across Australia based on mail redirection requests from the previous 5 years.

For this exercise, data from February 2019 to January 2024 was used.

Each entry in the data includes

  • the postcode the household relocated from,
  • the postcode the household relocated to,
  • the month of relocation, and
  • the number of the people that relocated.

This analysis shows forecasted migrated trends for the next year when pre-pandemic data is used (Feb 2019 – Jan 2020) compared to forecasts based on mail redirection requests in the post-pandemic era (2022-2024).

The analysis was conducted on a Statistical Area Level 4 level which are Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defined regions that clearly distinguish inner-city areas, outer-city areas and rural areas.

For a step-by-step guide, see our blog on How to Predict Migration Patterns using Auspost Movers Statistics Data and Snowflake’s Cortex ML functions>

Australia Post Movers Statistics Data

This dataset contains five years of de-identified, aggregated information on past moves captured by Australia Post’s Mail Redirection service.

Access Australia Post mail redirect statistics now to help you develop competitive data-driven strategies.

The intellectual property rights for all content in this blog are exclusively held by Data Army and The Proptech Cloud. All rights are reserved, and no content may be republished or reproduced without express written permission from us. All content provided is for informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure that the information provided here is both factual and accurate, we make no representations or warranties of any kind about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the blog for any purpose.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest blogs and data listings direct to your inbox.

Data consultancy, Data Army dives into the Australia Post Movers Statistics dataset to understand where people are migrating to within Australia and predicting where they’re likely to move to next.

We explain the data visualisations created and documented in our previous blog How to Predict Migration Patterns using Auspost Movers Statistics Data and Snowflake’s Cortex ML functions>

By analysing movements and observing trends, we’re able to gather valuable insights to inspire decisions with data-driven intelligence.

How to Interpret the Data Visualisations

The visualisations below show the net migration metric for all Australian states.

Net migration is calculated by forecasting the number of people moving into an area subtracted by the number of people people moving out of an area.

White, grey and lighter blue colours indicate regions with lower net migration, representing regions where a high number of people are leaving the regions and a lower number of people are relocating into these regions.

Mid to darker blue colours represent regions with higher net migration, regions where the number of people moving to those regions outweigh the number of people leaving those regions.

The Results by State

 

New South Wales (NSW)

In NSW, prior to the pandemic, the light blue areas in the inner city areas indicate there was some movement in inner city areas including Chatswood, the Sydney Central Business District (CBD) and areas just west of the city.

However, there was a much higher level of migration into the areas much further west of the city including Penrith and Blaxland, as well as Newcastle.

The trend of moving away from the city has further increased since the COVID pandemic in NSW, where areas very close to the city show the lowest forecasted net migration in the state.

This indicates that people are moving away from the city. Some possible explanations for these movements could be due to rising rents or potentially due to the fact that they no longer need to live within metropolitan areas for work.

In NSW, rural areas south of the city close to Canberra such as Goulburn, and rural areas north of Newcastle such as Taree are the regions with the highest amount of forecasted net migration as shown by the visualisations below.

NSW Pre-COVID
NSW Post-COVID

Figure 1: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for New South Wales

Victoria

A similar trend can be observed in Victoria. Both pre- and post-pandemic, the areas which had the lowest net migration were the inner city Melbourne suburbs of Brunswick, North Melbourne and Fitzroy.

However, prior to the pandemic, the areas with the highest forecasted net migration was Geelong and the south coast of Melbourne.

Post-COVID, the areas with the highest forecasted migration are even further away, possibly indicating these coastal areas are now also less desirable or unaffordable.

These include rural areas including Warragul and Taree. Greenfield suburbs just north of the city including Sunbury also have high levels of forecasted migration.

VIC Pre-COVID
VIC Post-COVID

Figure 2: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Victoria

Queensland

Like Melbourne, the forecasts for net migration in the inner city part of Brisbane is relatively similar both pre- and post-pandemic.

The inner city areas have low levels of forecasted net migration.

Interestingly, the highest amount of forecasted migration in Queensland prior to the pandemic was in the Gold Coast, which is only approximately an hour from Brisbane CBD.

Post-pandemic, areas further west of the Brisbane city including Ipswich, and Harrisville have higher levels of forecasted migration.

This could be indicative of people from Queensland relocating, but could also suggest people from interstate or overseas moving from other locations to places west of the city.

There is also a high level of migration predicted for the Sunshine Coast post-pandemic, further highlighting the trend also observed in Sydney and Melbourne of people moving into more rural areas.

QLD Pre-COVID
QLD Post-COVID

Figure 3: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Queensland

South Australia

South Australia, unlike NSW, Victoria and Queensland is one of the few states where the highest forecasted pre-pandemic net migration was in an inner-city area.

However, the trend to relocate to rural areas was very high post-pandemic. Rural areas including Kangaroo Island, Murray Bridge and Clare had much higher forecasted net migration after the pandemic. This supports the trend observed in the other states.

SA Pre-COVID
SA Post-COVID

Figure 4: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for South Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is one of the few states where the forecasted net migration into rural areas is not high.

The pre-COVID migration forecasts indicate the highest level of net migration were in the Perth City area and post-COVID the highest amount of net migration was just south of the city.

One possible reason for this could be that while Perth house prices and rents have been rising, they are still much lower than Sydney or Melbourne, and therefore is still affordable for people to be able to live close to the city.

Secondly, as mining is the predominant industry in Western Australia, it is possible that it is not feasible for many of these workers to move and work remotely.

WA Pre-COVID
WA Post-COVID

Figure 5: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Western Australia

Tasmania

Tasmania is the only Australian state where the amount of net migration into the inner city forecasts are higher post-covid as compared to pre-COVID.

Prior to COVID , Hobart had the lowest net migration compared to all other regions in Tasmania. However, post-COVID the amount of met migration in the CBD is higher, indicating people are moving into Hobart.

Similarly, the amount of forecasted migration into Launceston, Tasmania’s second biggest city, is higher post-COVID as compared to pre-COVID.

The reason that the same rural migration has not been seen in Tasmania, unlike other states, could be because of Tasmania’s population.

Hobart’s population is only approximately 250,000 which is smaller than rural areas that people were migrating to including the Sunshine Coast.

Thus, the high rental and accommodation costs that are evident in highly populated cities, including Sydney or Melbourne may not be evident in Tasmania.

TAS Pre-COVID
TAS Post-COVID

Figure 6: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Tasmania

​Summary of Findings

In the period post-COVID there is high evidence of people migrating to rural areas, especially in states with larger CBDs such as New South Wales, Victoria and Brisbane.

Interestingly, in these states, people seemed to be migrating to outer-city areas even prior to the pandemic.

This may suggest that there were factors encouraging people to move out of the city. This trend seems to have increased further since COVID.

Overall, there is a clear trend in the two most populated states, New South Wales and Victoria for net migration into rural areas.

These were the two states that were most affected by COVID lockdowns in Australia and have the highest house prices in the country which may be one of the key the drivers behind the high level of relocation to rural areas.

Less populated states including South Australia and Queensland have experienced a similar trend with high levels of net migration to rural areas including Kangaroo Island, Clare and the Sunshine Coast.

The only states that haven’t experienced net migration to rural areas are Western Australia and Tasmania.

A Reflection of Australia’s Housing Situation

Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis where steep house prices prevent many first-home buyers from entering the market, especially in inner-city areas.

Driven by the low supply of rentals and high post-pandemic migration, rents continue to skyrocket in many metropolitan cites.

In Australia’s most populous metropolitan areas Sydney and Melbourne, rents rose by 10.2% and 11.1%1 from December 2022 to December 2023 respectively.

Since 2020, the COVID pandemic has transformed the workplace environment, by forcing some office workers to do their job remotely due to lockdowns and government restrictions.

To this day, some office workers continue to work remotely full or part time, meaning that when picking a place to live, they may not need to prioritise being within a reasonable commuting distance from their usual physical office.

The combination of unaffordable rents and mortgages in inner city areas and increase in work from home trends may have contributed to many Australians migrating to outer-city and rural locations.

Strategic Insights

The findings hold significant strategic value for both the private and public sectors.

Incorporating these insights alongside additional data points, such as overseas migration into Australia, enriches the analysis, providing a more comprehensive understanding of migration patterns.

This broader perspective can enhance strategic planning and decision-making processes across various industries and governmental levels.

Examples include real estate development, investment, business expansion, transportation and infrastructure decisions, as well as urban, land use, policy or even healthcare and public services planning.

These findings can offer a foundation for both private and public sectors to adapt to changing demographic patterns in a way that maximises economic opportunities while ensuring community well-being and sustainability.

About The Analysis

Data Army used the Australian Post Movers Statistics dataset to base the forecasts in migration patterns during and after the COVID pandemic in each Australian state.

The primary dataset used in this study is the Australia Post Movers Statistics. It contains de-identified and aggregated data on moves across Australia based on mail redirection requests from the previous 5 years.

For this exercise, data from February 2019 to January 2024 was used.

Each entry in the data includes

  • the postcode the household relocated from,
  • the postcode the household relocated to,
  • the month of relocation, and
  • the number of the people that relocated.

This analysis shows forecasted migrated trends for the next year when pre-pandemic data is used (Feb 2019 – Jan 2020) compared to forecasts based on mail redirection requests in the post-pandemic era (2022-2024).

The analysis was conducted on a Statistical Area Level 4 level which are Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defined regions that clearly distinguish inner-city areas, outer-city areas and rural areas.

For a step-by-step guide, see our blog on How to Predict Migration Patterns using Auspost Movers Statistics Data and Snowflake’s Cortex ML functions>

Australia Post Movers Statistics Data

This dataset contains five years of de-identified, aggregated information on past moves captured by Australia Post’s Mail Redirection service.

Access Australia Post mail redirect statistics now to help you develop competitive data-driven strategies.

The intellectual property rights for all content in this blog are exclusively held by Data Army and The Proptech Cloud. All rights are reserved, and no content may be republished or reproduced without express written permission from us. All content provided is for informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure that the information provided here is both factual and accurate, we make no representations or warranties of any kind about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the blog for any purpose.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest blogs and data listings direct to your inbox.

Data consultancy, Data Army dives into the Australia Post Movers Statistics dataset to understand where people are migrating to within Australia and predicting where they’re likely to move to next.

We explain the data visualisations created and documented in our previous blog How to Predict Migration Patterns using Auspost Movers Statistics Data and Snowflake’s Cortex ML functions>

By analysing movements and observing trends, we’re able to gather valuable insights to inspire decisions with data-driven intelligence.

How to Interpret the Data Visualisations

The visualisations below show the net migration metric for all Australian states.

Net migration is calculated by forecasting the number of people moving into an area subtracted by the number of people people moving out of an area.

White, grey and lighter blue colours indicate regions with lower net migration, representing regions where a high number of people are leaving the regions and a lower number of people are relocating into these regions.

Mid to darker blue colours represent regions with higher net migration, regions where the number of people moving to those regions outweigh the number of people leaving those regions.

The Results by State

 

New South Wales (NSW)

In NSW, prior to the pandemic, the light blue areas in the inner city areas indicate there was some movement in inner city areas including Chatswood, the Sydney Central Business District (CBD) and areas just west of the city.

However, there was a much higher level of migration into the areas much further west of the city including Penrith and Blaxland, as well as Newcastle.

The trend of moving away from the city has further increased since the COVID pandemic in NSW, where areas very close to the city show the lowest forecasted net migration in the state.

This indicates that people are moving away from the city. Some possible explanations for these movements could be due to rising rents or potentially due to the fact that they no longer need to live within metropolitan areas for work.

In NSW, rural areas south of the city close to Canberra such as Goulburn, and rural areas north of Newcastle such as Taree are the regions with the highest amount of forecasted net migration as shown by the visualisations below.

NSW Pre-COVID
NSW Post-COVID

Figure 1: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for New South Wales

Victoria

A similar trend can be observed in Victoria. Both pre- and post-pandemic, the areas which had the lowest net migration were the inner city Melbourne suburbs of Brunswick, North Melbourne and Fitzroy.

However, prior to the pandemic, the areas with the highest forecasted net migration was Geelong and the south coast of Melbourne.

Post-COVID, the areas with the highest forecasted migration are even further away, possibly indicating these coastal areas are now also less desirable or unaffordable.

These include rural areas including Warragul and Taree. Greenfield suburbs just north of the city including Sunbury also have high levels of forecasted migration.

VIC Pre-COVID
VIC Post-COVID

Figure 2: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Victoria

Queensland

Like Melbourne, the forecasts for net migration in the inner city part of Brisbane is relatively similar both pre- and post-pandemic.

The inner city areas have low levels of forecasted net migration.

Interestingly, the highest amount of forecasted migration in Queensland prior to the pandemic was in the Gold Coast, which is only approximately an hour from Brisbane CBD.

Post-pandemic, areas further west of the Brisbane city including Ipswich, and Harrisville have higher levels of forecasted migration.

This could be indicative of people from Queensland relocating, but could also suggest people from interstate or overseas moving from other locations to places west of the city.

There is also a high level of migration predicted for the Sunshine Coast post-pandemic, further highlighting the trend also observed in Sydney and Melbourne of people moving into more rural areas.

QLD Pre-COVID
QLD Post-COVID

Figure 3: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Queensland

South Australia

South Australia, unlike NSW, Victoria and Queensland is one of the few states where the highest forecasted pre-pandemic net migration was in an inner-city area.

However, the trend to relocate to rural areas was very high post-pandemic. Rural areas including Kangaroo Island, Murray Bridge and Clare had much higher forecasted net migration after the pandemic. This supports the trend observed in the other states.

SA Pre-COVID
SA Post-COVID

Figure 4: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for South Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is one of the few states where the forecasted net migration into rural areas is not high.

The pre-COVID migration forecasts indicate the highest level of net migration were in the Perth City area and post-COVID the highest amount of net migration was just south of the city.

One possible reason for this could be that while Perth house prices and rents have been rising, they are still much lower than Sydney or Melbourne, and therefore is still affordable for people to be able to live close to the city.

Secondly, as mining is the predominant industry in Western Australia, it is possible that it is not feasible for many of these workers to move and work remotely.

WA Pre-COVID
WA Post-COVID

Figure 5: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Western Australia

Tasmania

Tasmania is the only Australian state where the amount of net migration into the inner city forecasts are higher post-covid as compared to pre-COVID.

Prior to COVID , Hobart had the lowest net migration compared to all other regions in Tasmania. However, post-COVID the amount of met migration in the CBD is higher, indicating people are moving into Hobart.

Similarly, the amount of forecasted migration into Launceston, Tasmania’s second biggest city, is higher post-COVID as compared to pre-COVID.

The reason that the same rural migration has not been seen in Tasmania, unlike other states, could be because of Tasmania’s population.

Hobart’s population is only approximately 250,000 which is smaller than rural areas that people were migrating to including the Sunshine Coast.

Thus, the high rental and accommodation costs that are evident in highly populated cities, including Sydney or Melbourne may not be evident in Tasmania.

TAS Pre-COVID
TAS Post-COVID

Figure 6: Pre- and post-COVID migration per SA4 for Tasmania

​Summary of Findings

In the period post-COVID there is high evidence of people migrating to rural areas, especially in states with larger CBDs such as New South Wales, Victoria and Brisbane.

Interestingly, in these states, people seemed to be migrating to outer-city areas even prior to the pandemic.

This may suggest that there were factors encouraging people to move out of the city. This trend seems to have increased further since COVID.

Overall, there is a clear trend in the two most populated states, New South Wales and Victoria for net migration into rural areas.

These were the two states that were most affected by COVID lockdowns in Australia and have the highest house prices in the country which may be one of the key the drivers behind the high level of relocation to rural areas.

Less populated states including South Australia and Queensland have experienced a similar trend with high levels of net migration to rural areas including Kangaroo Island, Clare and the Sunshine Coast.

The only states that haven’t experienced net migration to rural areas are Western Australia and Tasmania.

A Reflection of Australia’s Housing Situation

Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis where steep house prices prevent many first-home buyers from entering the market, especially in inner-city areas.

Driven by the low supply of rentals and high post-pandemic migration, rents continue to skyrocket in many metropolitan cites.

In Australia’s most populous metropolitan areas Sydney and Melbourne, rents rose by 10.2% and 11.1%1 from December 2022 to December 2023 respectively.

Since 2020, the COVID pandemic has transformed the workplace environment, by forcing some office workers to do their job remotely due to lockdowns and government restrictions.

To this day, some office workers continue to work remotely full or part time, meaning that when picking a place to live, they may not need to prioritise being within a reasonable commuting distance from their usual physical office.

The combination of unaffordable rents and mortgages in inner city areas and increase in work from home trends may have contributed to many Australians migrating to outer-city and rural locations.

Strategic Insights

The findings hold significant strategic value for both the private and public sectors.

Incorporating these insights alongside additional data points, such as overseas migration into Australia, enriches the analysis, providing a more comprehensive understanding of migration patterns.

This broader perspective can enhance strategic planning and decision-making processes across various industries and governmental levels.

Examples include real estate development, investment, business expansion, transportation and infrastructure decisions, as well as urban, land use, policy or even healthcare and public services planning.

These findings can offer a foundation for both private and public sectors to adapt to changing demographic patterns in a way that maximises economic opportunities while ensuring community well-being and sustainability.

About The Analysis

Data Army used the Australian Post Movers Statistics dataset to base the forecasts in migration patterns during and after the COVID pandemic in each Australian state.

The primary dataset used in this study is the Australia Post Movers Statistics. It contains de-identified and aggregated data on moves across Australia based on mail redirection requests from the previous 5 years.

For this exercise, data from February 2019 to January 2024 was used.

Each entry in the data includes

  • the postcode the household relocated from,
  • the postcode the household relocated to,
  • the month of relocation, and
  • the number of the people that relocated.

This analysis shows forecasted migrated trends for the next year when pre-pandemic data is used (Feb 2019 – Jan 2020) compared to forecasts based on mail redirection requests in the post-pandemic era (2022-2024).

The analysis was conducted on a Statistical Area Level 4 level which are Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defined regions that clearly distinguish inner-city areas, outer-city areas and rural areas.

For a step-by-step guide, see our blog on How to Predict Migration Patterns using Auspost Movers Statistics Data and Snowflake’s Cortex ML functions>

Australia Post Movers Statistics Data

This dataset contains five years of de-identified, aggregated information on past moves captured by Australia Post’s Mail Redirection service.

Access Australia Post mail redirect statistics now to help you develop competitive data-driven strategies.

The intellectual property rights for all content in this blog are exclusively held by Data Army and The Proptech Cloud. All rights are reserved, and no content may be republished or reproduced without express written permission from us. All content provided is for informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure that the information provided here is both factual and accurate, we make no representations or warranties of any kind about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the blog for any purpose.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest blogs and data listings direct to your inbox.

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“Fundamentally, the problem is that we’re not building enough homes,” Mr Leigh, the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, told Q+A.

It’s clear that Australia requires millions more homes to meet current demand but also accommodate future population growth.

However, as it stands, governments are finding it challenging to meet their own targets.

The debate, and followed up by The Sydney Morning Herald article Do planning rules really affect house prices? The answer is clear, has cast a spotlight on a host of interconnected factors contributing to this issue.

At the heart of the matter are planning and zoning rules, which, contrary to some beliefs, significantly influence housing prices and supply. This is a contentious point, highlighted by the disagreement between Max Chandler-Mather, Greens Spokesperson on Housing & Homelessness, and Dan McKenna, CEO of Nightingale Housing, pointing to a deeper complexity within the debate.

While Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership, Senator Andrew Bragg’s remarks on construction industry, skills shortage and migration underscores the multifaceted approach needed to address the crisis.

This crisis reflects broader societal issues—including a shortage in construction and trades to debates on policy, immigration, and infrastructure development.

The challenges extend to financial mechanisms of owning a home, with strategies like tapping into superannuation funds or adopting shared equity schemes considered as possible solutions (which have their own implications).

As housing prices in some states soar to record levels and impact housing affordability, the dream slips further away for many, with rising homelessness a sign of a deepening emergency.

The conversation also touched on regulatory measures like controlling rent increases and revisiting the impacts of capital gains tax and tax concessions, such as negative gearing, which has been identified as contributing factors in the price hikes over the last few decades.

A possible solution to the housing crisis

Looking beyond our shores for solutions, it’s clear that this is not an issue unique to Australia.

International examples offer alternative paths forward and suggest a re-evaluation of property planning rules.

But first, we need to understand our current property planning rules.

Captured and represented by Archistar, Australian Property Planning Rules for Land Use could provide crucial insights into land use and, potentially, relief to the crisis. The data, available via the Snowflake Marketplace, details current land use zoning applied across the nation with geospatial representation. The use of that data can help us to understand where we currently stand and offer possible solutions when variables are tweaked, such as housing density.

Another challenge in solving the housing affordability problem in Australia, and globally for that matter, is the accessibility of data. 

Archistar is helping to break down these barriers by collating national datasets for planning rules that can be easily accessed and analysed using Snowflake’s Data Platform.

The way forward

As we negotiate this national emergency, it becomes increasingly evident that a multifaceted and inclusive approach is essential.

Engaging in open discussions, exploring innovative housing policies, and reconsidering the frameworks which our housing market operates could pave the way towards a more equitable future.

The dream of homeownership, safeguarding against homelessness, and the creation of sustainable communities demand it.

Australian Property Planning Rules for Land Use

Access Archistar’s Australian Property Planning Rules and understand zoning designations and regulations across the nation.

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The Significance of Land Titles Searches in Australia

The Significance of Land Titles Searches in Australia

Understanding property ownership is crucial when it comes to the process of buying or selling real estate.

One of the fundamental steps in this process is conducting a land title search.

We’ll explore the significance of land title searches and provide an overview of the process involved.

Why are land title searches important?

A land title search is an important part of any property transaction because it provides essential information about a property’s ownership, history and its legal status. Visibility into a property could surface any potential challenges and offer peace of mind.

Land title searches provide:

  • Ownership verification: A title search helps confirm the current property owner, and ensures that the seller has the legal right to transfer ownership.
  • Encumbrances: It reveals any liens, mortgages, or other encumbrances on the property. These could affect your ability to buy or sell the property.
  • Property boundaries: The search may include information on property boundaries, so you know exactly what you’re potentially buying.
  • Legal issues: Uncovering legal disputes or pending litigation related to the property is important to avoid potential future headaches.
Land title search

How land titles are managed and regulated

Land titles in Australia are managed and regulated at the state and territory level, with each jurisdiction having its own specific legislation and system for registering and managing land ownership.

  • Torrens Title System: Most land in Australia is governed by the Torrens Title System. This system provides a government-guaranteed title, offering security and certainty of ownership. When you own a property under Torrens Title, your name is recorded on the land title register, and you receive a Certificate of Title as evidence of your ownership.
  • Land Titles Offices: Each state and territory in Australia has its Land Titles Office or equivalent authority responsible for maintaining and registering land titles. These offices are responsible for recording all land transactions, including property sales, mortgages, and leases.
  • Transfer of Ownership: When you buy or sell a property, a legal process known as conveyancing occurs. This process involves transferring the ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer. Conveyancers or solicitors typically handle this process, ensuring that the transfer is legally valid and registered with the Land Titles Office.
  • Certificate of Title: The Certificate of Title is an important document that proves ownership of the property. It includes information about the property, such as its boundaries and any restrictions or encumbrances. In some states, this document is now stored electronically, and a paper certificate may not be issued.
  • Encumbrances and Easements: The land title register also records any encumbrances or easements that may affect the property. These could include restrictions on land use, rights of way, or access for utilities. It’s essential to understand these when buying a property.
  • Land Title Searches: Anyone can conduct a land title search, which provides information about a property’s title, ownership, encumbrances, and other relevant details. This is most commonly done during the due diligence process when purchasing property.
  • Transfer of Land Fees and Stamp Duty: When transferring ownership of a property, you’ll be required to pay fees to the Land Titles Office. Additionally, you may need to pay stamp duty, which is a state or territory tax based on the property’s purchase price.
  • Land Title Fraud Protection: Australian Land Titles Offices have implemented various measures to protect against fraud, including electronic conveyancing systems and identity verification processes.
  • Leasehold and Strata Titles: In addition to Torrens Title, some properties may have leasehold titles (common in some rural areas) or strata titles (for multi-unit buildings). These titles have their specific regulations and requirements.
Australian Land Title Search

Land title search must-knows

Accessing land title information

In Australia, land title information is usually managed at the state or territory level by government agencies. Each state and territory has its own land titles office or equivalent agency. Property information, including title records, can often be accessed online through these government websites or in person at their offices.

Property identification

To conduct a land title search, you typically need to provide specific details about the property, such as its address, lot and plan number, or title reference. This information is used to identify the property in the land titles database.

Requesting a search

You can request a land title search by filling out a form and paying a fee. Some government agencies also offer online search services where you can enter the property details and pay for the search online.

Types of land title searches

    • Current Title Search: Provides information about the current property owner, any mortgages or liens, and property boundaries.
    • Historical Title Search: Offers historical data on the property, including past ownership, transfers, and historical titles.
    • Encumbrance Search: Shows any encumbrances or restrictions on the property, such as easements, covenants, or caveats.
    • Plan and Survey Searches: Provide access to survey plans and related documents, which can be important for boundary and development information.

Search results

Once your search request is processed, you will receive a report or certificate that summarises the information available for the property. This report will include details about the property’s current owner, any encumbrances, and other relevant information.

Procedures and access

Methods of conducting land title searches may vary slightly between different states and territories in Australia. We recommend you check the specific land titles office or agency for each state or visit their official website (see Property Registry) for up-to-date and detailed information on conducting land title searches in Australia.

Land title search

Who might conduct title searches?

Land title searches are commonly completed to gain essential information before buying or selling a property, conduct due diligence, or settle legal matters related to land and property. Typically, a title search is done by:

  • Prospective buyers often perform a land title search to check that the property they intend to purchase has a clear title, free from any legal issues or encumbrances.
  • Sellers may choose to conduct a title search to confirm the accuracy of the property’s ownership records and to address any potential issues before listing the property for sale.
  • Real estate agents may assist buyers and sellers in conducting land title searches as part of their services. They can help facilitate the process and ensure that their clients have a full understanding of the property’s title status.
  • Real estate attorneys often conduct title searches as part of their due diligence when representing buyers or sellers in property transactions. They can identify and address legal issues that may affect the transaction.
  • Title companies specialise in providing title insurance and conducting title searches. They have access to comprehensive databases and can perform thorough searches to verify property ownership and identify any liens or encumbrances.
  • Mortgage lenders may also require a title search as part of the loan approval process to protect their interests and ensure that the property can be used as collateral for the loan.
  • In some cases, government agencies or land registries may be involved in title searches, especially when dealing with public lands or properties owned by government entities.

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Useful Websites for Australian Properties, Parcels and Addresses

Useful Websites for Australian Properties, Parcels and Addresses

Researching the existence of a property or verifying data can be challenging, often resulting in conflicting answers. Depending on your definition of a property, it may be necessary to visit various websites to validate property data.

Here we’ve rounded up the top websites handy for verifying property data in each Australian state.

Save time by bookmarking this resource and avoid the hassle of constantly searching online.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Access Canberra

Website: https://actlis.act.gov.au/titleSearch

Available searches: title search, parcel search, address search.

Available information: parcel, title, address, title status

New South Wales (NSW)

NSW LRS Online

Website: https://online.nswlrs.com.au/wps/portal/six/find-records/

Available searches: title search, parcel search, address search.

Available information: parcel, title, address, parcel boundary

ePlanning Spatial Viewer

Website: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/spatialviewer/#/find-a-property/address

Available searches: parcel search, address search.

Available information: parcel, address, parcel boundary, planning rules, council/county/jurisdiction

Northern Territory (NT)

Northern Territory Title Search

Website: https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/title-search/

Available searches: title search, parcel search, address search.

Available information: parcel, title, address, title status

Queensland (QLD)

Queensland Globe

Website: https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/

Available searches: parcel search, address search, spatial search

Available information: parcel, parcel boundary, title, address, title status, tenure

South Australia (SA)

Sailis Land Services SA
Property Research Report (Residential)

Website: https://sailis.lssa.com.au/products/valuationSearch/prr/propertyResearchReportResidential?form

Available searches: address, title, parcel, valuation

Available information: parcel, title, address, valuation status

Tasmania (TAS)

Land Information System Tasmania

Website: https://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map

Available searches: address, property id, title, volume folio

Available information: parcel, parcel boundary, parcel identifier, address, property

Victoria (VIC)

Landata

Website:
https://www.landata.vic.gov.au/

Available searches: address, property id, standard parcel identifier, volume folio

Available information: address, property , volume folio, standard parcel identifier

Western Australia (WA)

Landgate – Western Australia’s land information authority

Website: https://www0.landgate.wa.gov.au/

Available searches: address search, lot plan, volume folio

Available information: address, volume folio, standard parcel identifier

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