Moorabool Shire had the third highest growth rate of metro-leaving movers in the country over the last three months.
Statistics show of the LGAs (Local Government Areas) with the largest net inflows from capital cities, Moorabool recorded a 5.4 per cent share in the 12 months leading up to March 2024.
The area is only preceded by the Sunshine Coast, which topped the list for the fifth consecutive quarter, and the Gold Coast.
Moorabool boasted a 17.8 per cent annual growth rate, despite a dip of 8.9 per cent from the last quarter in December 2023.
Moorabool mayor Ally Munari said it was no surprise that the region placed so high on the list.
“There have been steady increases of Melbourne people moving to Moorabool for many years, which increased significantly post-pandemic, with greater work flexibility on offer,“ she said.
“Our shire is a fantastic place to live with friendly people, open space, commutable to Melbourne and other regional centres and affordable housing.
“We need to make sure, given these figures showing high internal migration, that Moorabool receives its fair share of funding.“
These figures are part of the Regional Movers Index, which is released by CommBank and Regional Australia Institute.