A South Australian holiday hotspot is among one of the top-five locations in Australia luring residents away from the city to call it home.
SA’s Copper Coast council area, which includes Moonta, Wallaroo and Kadina, was singled out in Commbank’s new Regional Movers Index report, which looks at net population movement in and out of Australia’s further-flung areas during the December quarter.
According to the report, the Copper Coast’s council’s population is up 128.1 per cent over the past 12 months – the fifth greatest increase in the country – as a result of capital to regional migration.
The data captures movement from all capital cities, not just those from interstate, so Adelaide-movers looking for their slice of coastal life are also captured in the data.
Ray White Yorke Peninsula Moonta office ’s Greg Smith said the Copper Coast had been attracting attention in recent years, with Moonta, Wallaroo and Kadina the jewels in its crown.
“There’s been a fair bit of growth in recent years and there’s a lot to keep people here facilities-wise and that’s why they stay,” he said.
“I’ve been here for 35 years and have seen Moonta in particular go from a hamlet to a destination – its popularity has really boomed.
MORE NEWS
$660k Aussie home loan record forces first-home buyer rethink
The statistic that should terrify all homeowners
Southern Ocean Lodge link to Adelaide development revealed
Shock result as council forcibly sells 57 properties to recoup unpaid rates
This 100 pound Adelaide home just sold for how much?
How a simple change at the supermarket can get you into a home faster
“People can see the Copper Coast is a wonderful place to live and they’re starting to see it not as simply a holiday destination but a place they can live full-time, especially with people being able to work from home now.
“There have been quite a few people move here from Adelaide because they can see the value they can get here, and they’re still one and a half to two hours from Adelaide.
“It’s an easy drive here, there’s a great Meditteranean climate and it’s easy to get out on the water here, compared to down south.”
According to the report, the number of people who were seeking out regional housing outpaced those looking to leave them.
Moonta’s iconic main street. Picture: Tom Huntley
“Throughout the December 2025 quarter, the number of capital city residents moving to Australia’s regions outnumbered those making a move in the opposite direction by 31 per cent,” the report read.
“Migration from capitals accounted for 11.6 per cent of all internal migration – the second highest level recorded since 2022 – underscoring the strength of the total number of movers between capitals and regions.”
MORE NEWS
How much you need to save to buy in every Australian suburb
This 100 pound property just sold for how much?
Block fever sparks mad rush for rundown homes
Aussie island property selling for a steal – but there’s a catch
When it comes to regional to regional migration – those regional areas that have seen a population spike from people already living in other rural communities – Victor Harbor ranked third on Commbank’s top-five list, with its net population up 213.6 per cent.
OC Real Estate’s Kathleen Fry said the area had a lot to offer – and buyers were noticing.
“A lot of people are moving here to live here permanently and not just simply buying holiday homes,” Ms Fry said.
Victor Harbor from the air.
“We’ve had a lot of younger families move down here from Adelaide and interstate because the prices are still a lot more affordable than back in Adelaide and interstate.
“There are also a lot of people moving here from other regional areas because they can see that properties near the coast are only going to continue to get more expensive in the future.
“We just can’t keep up with the supply, because it seems everyone wants them.”
English (US) · 