Career opportunities and lifestyle help Geraldton top the list of fastest-growing regional city

Young pilot Briana Nicholson is not alone in her love for her new home of Geraldton. After all, the Mid West city has experienced a growth spurt recently, with the number of Australians moving here jumping fourfold. Research from the Commonwealth Bank and Regional Australia Institute reveals Geraldton recorded a 395 per cent increase in total net internal migration over one year — the biggest jump in Australia. For 24-year-old Ms Nicholson, coming to Geraldton was a career move that would help her progress in the aviation industry, with many pilots expected to complete regional work before moving into commercial flying. “Geraldton seemed like the perfect place,” she said. “It’s warm and sunny and on the coast. Living regionally was appealing to me because there is more opportunities and progression for pilots in the early stages of their career.” While some enjoy the fast-paced metropolitan life, the quiet regional lifestyle was another factor that drew Ms Nicholson when she moved from Perth in 2021. Geraldton and its surrounds boast an estimated population of 41,514, giving it the feel of suburban life without the peak-hour traffic — something Ms Nicholson said was one of her favourite aspects of life in the city. “Geraldton is regional so it’s quieter, and there’s less commuting but it’s still big enough to have everything close to home, and it’s still close to Perth so you don’t feel isolated,” she said. Ms Nicholson’s role as a pilot takes her to the Abrolhos Islands on a weekly basis — a sight some people only see once in their lifetime. “That view definitely doesn’t get old,” she said. While the population is on the rise, it is putting more pressure on a stressed property and rental market. Originally from Brisbane, Ms Nicholson has lived in Tasmania, Adelaide and Perth before making the move to the Mid West. “It’s quite tricky to find a house, even teaming up with people for a share house — Geraldton is such a transient place, not everyone is comfortable signing an 18-month lease, but that is what you have to do to secure a rental. It’s even trickier if you’re coming from outside not knowing anyone and trying to find a rental on your own,” she said. Although Ms Nicholson said finding a rental was difficult, she felt it was worth it compared with the cost of city living. “You get a lot more space for the same rent you’d pay in Perth,” she said. “Petrol is sometimes more expensive but you make that back easily by not having to drive as far for anything.” While Ms Nicholson came for work, it is the abundance of friends she has made that has kept her in town. “I’ve lived in regional towns before, but Geraldton was much easier to meet people and make friends,” she said. “Young professionals come to Gero for a few years and are very open and keen to explore. “Other towns I’ve lived in have a lot of locals who have lived there their entire lives and already have established friends and routines, which made it a bit harder.” Originally thinking she’d be here for six months, Ms Nicholson has surprised herself, celebrating 18 months in Geraldton in July, and she plans on sticking around for another year. TOP FIVE INTERNAL MIGRATION SPOTS Greater Geraldton, WA (up 395 per cent) Mid-western regional, NSW (up 236 per cent) Waroona, WA (u[ 206 per cent) Townsville, Qld (up 164 per cent) York, WA (up 152 per cent) Source: RIA/CBA