This City is Australia’s Fastest Growing—And It’s Not Where You Think!

Key takeaways

Our strong population growth and migration levels are clearly going to be mentioned frequently in the upcoming election campaign.

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows how we're spreading out and filling up spaces across the nation.

Last financial year Australia's capital cities collectively grew by 427,800 people, marking a 2.4% increase, largely driven by overseas migration.

Melbourne led this surge with an increase of 142,600 people, while Perth boasted the highest growth rate at 3.1%.

In contrast, regional Australia experienced a more modest growth of 113,800 people, or 1.3%.

Our strong population growth and migration levels are clearly going to be mentioned frequently in the upcoming election campaign.

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows how we're spreading out and filling up spaces across the nation.

Last financial year Australia's capital cities collectively grew by 427,800 people, marking a 2.4% increase, largely driven by overseas migration.

Melbourne led this surge with an increase of 142,600 people, while Perth boasted the highest growth rate at 3.1%.

In contrast, regional Australia experienced a more modest growth of 113,800 people, or 1.3%.

Capital cities

Population change

• Melbourne had the largest growth (up by 142,600 people), followed by Sydney (107,500), Brisbane (72,900) and Perth (72,700).
• Perth had the highest growth rate (3.1%), followed by Melbourne and Brisbane (both 2.7%).

Components of population change

• Natural increase was highest in Melbourne followed by Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
• Brisbane and Perth were the only capitals to have net internal migration gains. Net internal migration loss was largest in Sydney and Melbourne.
• All capital cities experienced net overseas migration gain, which was largest in Melbourne followed by Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.

Regions

The areas with the largest growth were:

• Fraser Rise - Plumpton (up by 4,300 people) and Rockbank - Mount Cottrell (4,100) in Melbourne's outer west
• Box Hill - Nelson (4,000) in Sydney’s outer north-west.

The areas with the highest growth rates were:

• Taylor (29%) in Canberra's outer north
• Fraser Rise - Plumpton (26%)
• Box Hill - Nelson (22%).

Outside of the capital cities:

• Caloundra West - Baringa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast had the largest growth (up by 2,500 people)
• Googong, just outside the Australian Capital Territory, had the highest growth rate (16%).

About Adam Hubbard Adam Hubbard is a senior Wealth Strategist at Metropole and his many years of real estate and wealth creation experience gives him a holistic perspective with which he helps his clients safely grow their wealth through property.