A staggering number of Australian city-dwellers would move to the regions

Approximately three-in-four Australians would move from a capital city to a mid-sized regional town under the right circumstances, new research reveals.

A report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute reveals only 16 per cent of capital city-dwellers are set on staying put.

Managing Director of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Dr Michael Fotheringham, says “the right circumstances” for moving “typically involve employment opportunities, now that can either be there are the right jobs in the regional centres or you’ve got a job that’s more transportable”.

“If you can work from home it doesn’t necessarily matter where that home is,” he told Ross and Russel.

Dr Fotheringham says fast rail connections to capital cities are another important factor for many.

“If we’re taking about those workers who are taking their current city-based job and moving their household to a regional town then that rapid connection back to the city on the days they do need to be in the office is a really important factor,” he said.

But the risk of natural disasters is influencing which regional areas people are willing to move to.

Of the people surveyed, 72 per cent said extreme heat and bushfires would influence their decision, while 66 per cent said floods would impact their choice.

Press PLAY below to hear why so many Australians would be willing to leave the major cities