Australians are flocking to a regional area with hundreds of job openings offering six-figure salaries and affordable homes by the beach, where they can enjoy coastal living and still commute to Sydney‘s CBD in under two hours.
Lake Macquarie, a city in Greater Newcastle located 130km north of Sydney, took the top spot for Sydneysiders escaping the city for a sea change.
The Regional Australia Institute listed Lake Macquarie ranked as the fourth most desirable city nationally and the number one in NSW for people moving from major cities.
Lake Macquarie (pictured), a local government area in Greater Newcastle located 130km north of Sydney, ranked as the fourth most desirable area nationally and the first in NSW for people moving from major cities
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the finding was ‘no surprise’ as the region offers a lifestyle outside big city living.
‘It’s no surprise we’re increasingly in the sights of people seeking a move away from the hustle and bustle of major metropolitan centres,’ Cr Fraser said.
‘Relocating to Lake Mac offers all the lifestyle benefits of living by the ocean, the lake and the mountains, and the financial benefits of living outside a capital city.
‘But it doesn’t mean missing out on everything a city has to offer.
‘We’re continuing to invest in facilities and infrastructure right across Lake Mac to make it a better place to live today, tomorrow and for years to come.’
The Lake Macquarie region is famous for its relaxed recreational lifestyle and for being nature’s outdoor playground, with many outdoor activities, adventures, picturesque beaches and a lake.
The region is also known for its affordable housing, with house prices in Lake Macquarie being $860,000 – making it easy for many to make a move.
That’s cheap compared to Sydney’s median house price which stands at more than $1.23million – with those looking for a home near the water expected to pay well over $3.5million in exclusive suburbs such as Bondi, Manly and Cronulla.
Former Sydneysider Madeleine told Daily Mail Australia she made a move to Lake Macquarie after realising buying property in Sydney was ‘unattainable’.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the finding was ‘no surprise’ as the region offers a lifestyle outside big city living
The region is famous for its relaxed recreational lifestyle and for being nature’s outdoor playground, with many outdoor activities, adventures, picturesque beaches and lake (pictured)
The 29-year-old lived in Sydney for eight years in the upmarket suburbs of Randwick, Clovelly, Kensington and Rosebery.
‘So I had been in Sydney for about eight years before I made a move up to Lake Macquarie at the start of this year,’ Madeleine said.
‘It was really, you know, to sort out my future. I knew that it was unattainable to buy a property in Sydney for me. So that was sort of the big motivator.
‘I was planning for my future and moved where I could live in a more achievable area where I could buy property and settle down.’
Madeleine explained having flexible work, which allows her to work from home, at an office in Newcastle and commute to the office in Sydney ‘every now and then’, allowed her to make a move.
She added anyone contemplating a move from Sydney to Lake Macquarie will not regret it as the region has a nice lifestyle and is great to ‘lay down roots’.
‘It’s just a really nice lifestyle and there’s a lot of reasons to love the area,’ Madeleine said.
‘It’s really close to Newcastle and close to Sydney. Everything is in range and at the same time gives locals a much more relaxed lifestyle.
‘It has beautiful scenery, and it’s so easy to go on lovely walks. It’s really got everything you need in terms of health care, resources and community facilities.’
Madeleine (pictured) moved from Sydney to Lake Macquarie after realising buying a house in the city was ‘unattainable’ for young Aussies. The 29-year-old said she has ‘no regrets’ adding the region has a ‘much more relaxed lifestyle’ and is a great location to ‘lay down roots’
Madeleine said there are many reasons to love the Lake Macquarie region including the beaches and beautiful scenery (pictured)
She has no regrets about moving away from Sydney and hopes to have a deposit saved up for her own home by the end of the year.
‘To me, being in Sydney. It never really felt like it would be a permanent,’ Madeleine said.
‘I feel like I’m not missing out on anything living in Lake Macquarie and at the same time it’s also so much more achievable if you are looking to buy property.’
3Realty Sales Director Alicia Taylor told Daily Mail Australia she has seen an influx of Sydneysiders buying their dream homes in some of the region’s popular suburbs.
Ms Taylor has worked as an agent for seven years and predominately sells homes in the popular Lake Macquarie suburb of Caves Beach.
‘It’s truly the perfect location because you’ve got the lake, the channel and the ocean all within minutes of one another,’ Ms Taylor said.
‘So it’s a very coastal lifestyle with lots of boating, fishing and camping, with lovely restaurants and cafes. It’s a very relaxed lifestyle.’
She explained the coastal suburb is the perfect location for Australians who are still working in the city but are looking for a sea change.
‘We’re only an hour and a half from Sydney, so it’s easy for people who are commuting and working in Sydney. It’s just as easy as going back home if you were living in western Sydney,’ Ms Taylor said.
‘We’re a lifestyle that’s very beach orientated with a lake and ocean. So we’re a really great location for people who are still potentially working in the city.’
3Realty Sales Director Alicia Taylor (pictured) said she has seen an influx of Sydneysiders buying their dream homes in some of the regions popular suburbs
Ms Taylor said the area provided residents with the perfect coastal lifestyle while still being close enough to the city for people communing to Sydney CBD for work
Ms Taylor said home values in Caves Beach increased by 49 per cent in six months during the Covid pandemic.
She added a broad range of people are buying in the area, including young families, professionals, investors and those close to retirement.
‘We’ve got a lot of young families moving into the area and a lot of families buying holiday houses and using them on the weekend or as Airbnbs,’ Ms Taylor said.
‘There are also a lot of people who are almost ready to retire who are buying in the area. People in their 50s or 60s, who might purchase a property rented out for the next two to five years and then move up once they’ve completely retired.’
Ms Taylor said despite Caves Beach having a median house price of $1.1million – which is above the median house price for the Lake Macquarie region – the suburb is still more affordable than buying a property close to the beach in Sydney.
Lake Macquarie’s population is forecasted to increase by 50,459 people – growing from 202,332 in 2016 to 252,791 by 2041.
The prediction comes from Remplan – a team of economists, planners, analysts, demographers and economic development specialists – who expect the largest growth to occur between 2021 and 2026.
By the end of 2023, Lake Macquarie’s population is expected to increase by 2.4 per cent.
Museum of Art and Culture Lake Macquarie (pictured)
Remplan have forecasted the Lake Macquarie population at the end of 2023 will be 219,207, seeing an increase of 2.4% since 2021, which supports 73,233 jobs within the city.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data found while all generation groups in the city had an increase in the number of people between 2016 and 2021, Millennials had the largest increase with 4,484 extra people.
High paying jobs are also on offer in the region Greater Newcastle region, with many advertised online with an annual salary between $80,000 to $100,000.
Lake Macquarie City Council spend around $100 million in capital investment each year, while building approvals during 2021-2022 totalled $766.6 million.
