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July 24, 2025
Australia’s Fastest Growing Cities in 2024: Melbourne Leads as Regional Growth Slows
Australia’s population hit a record 27,194,500 in June 2024, with a substantial increase of 541,500 residents over the past year. This surge highlights ongoing population trends in both capital cities and regional centres, with some clear winners and surprising slowdowns.
Melbourne Remains Australia’s Fastest-Growing City
Melbourne tops the list of major urban areas with a population of 5.24 million and the highest annual growth of 140,712 residents from June 2023 to June 2024. Compared to its 20-year average of 83,882, this marks a 68% jump in annual growth. The city’s sustained appeal is attributed to a mix of employment opportunities, infrastructure projects, and lifestyle benefits.
Sydney & Brisbane Not Far Behind
Sydney follows closely with an annual population increase of 102,739, pushing its total to 5.14 million. While not as high as Melbourne’s growth rate, Sydney still saw a 58% increase compared to its previous 20-year average.
Brisbane, with a total population of 2.69 million, added 70,888 new residents, reflecting a 53% increase from its long-term trend. The city continues to attract new migrants with its balanced lifestyle, affordability (relative to Sydney and Melbourne), and expanding job market.
Other Fast Movers: Perth & Adelaide
Perth saw impressive growth, adding 71,190 people in one year, up 68% from its 20-year average. Adelaide also grew modestly with 21,900 new residents, marking a 47% increase.
Regional Growth: A Mixed Bag
Not all cities shared the same momentum. Hobart, despite its natural charm, only saw 2,972 new residents a stark 66% drop from its previous average. Cairns also experienced a 61% decline, with just 2,426 new people this year.
Other regional centres like Geelong and Darwin reported 36% and 38% drops in growth, respectively. These figures indicate a shifting trend where people are increasingly choosing major metropolitan hubs over smaller regional areas.
Key Takeaways
- National growth (2023-2024): +541,500 people
- Top 3 growth leaders: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
- Strongest annual growth difference: Wollongong (+71%), Perth (+68%), Melbourne (+68%)
- Biggest regional slowdowns: Hobart (-66%), Cairns (-61%), Darwin (-38%)
What It Means for Australia
As urbanisation continues to shape population movements, policymakers and planners must adapt infrastructure and services in growth-heavy regions while finding ways to re-ignite momentum in regional centres.
The data, sourced from ABS and illustrated above, offers vital insight into where Australians are heading and where they’re not.
For expert property guidance and insights tailored to your needs, get in touch with Best Buyer’s Advocate Sydney. Call us today at +61 434 111 200 to speak with a trusted local expert.
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