Caitlin Menadue, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
A growing number of Australians are leaving capital cities for regional towns, with Yorke Peninsula among the areas seeing the shift.
According to the Regional Movers Index (September 2025 quarter), internal migration from cities to regions has increased by 2.5 per cent, now accounting for 11.5 per cent of all major relocations.
In contrast, movement from regional to capital cities makes up 8.4 per cent.
Locally, the Copper Coast Council area accounted for 0.3 per cent of the nation’s capital-to-regional moves, compared with 0.2 per cent from the Yorke Peninsula Council district.
The Copper Coast also recorded 0.4 per cent of region-to-region migration, compared with 0.1 per cent in the Yorke Peninsula Council area.
Seachange for retirees and families
Coastal towns such as Wallaroo continue to attract retirees and young families.
Tricia Jarvis and her partner bought a home in Wallaroo just before Christmas, after several years sailing around the country.
“We left Adelaide four years ago heading west and we missed crossing the Bight before winter,” Ms Jarvis said.
“After a few weeks spent in Port Lincoln, we decided to sail up the gulf and spend a few months in Wallaroo.”
Their yacht was currently docked halfway to Darwin, but the couple were glad they chose to make Wallaroo home, she said.
The region has long been recognised as a top destination for retirees, offering pristine beaches, slower living and a strong sense of community.
But it’s also drawing younger families.
Simone Walters, originally from Corny Point, and her partner Ben moved into their newly built home in Wallaroo in May.
The couple welcomed their daughter, Billie, three months ago.
Ms Walters said the move from Adelaide offered lifestyle and space for their growing family.
“It’s spacious, you can have chickens and it’s great exposure for kids,” she said.
While they had looked for a house in Adelaide, the costs were out of reach.
“The prices aren’t much better here but you can buy land and get more for your dollar,” Ms Walters said.
Having fallen in love with the seaside lifestyle, the couple said they were not looking back.
“There’s a lot of pride in the town and you can definitely feel that,” she said.
Young couples make the switch
Affordability was also a driving factor for Jack and Cassidy Swansson, who recently relocated to Maitland.
“We were looking at houses for ages in Adelaide and it was just so expensive,” Mr Swansson said.
“We used to come camping on Yorkes all the time and loved it, so we thought why not just move here instead?”
Now working FIFO, with Mrs Swansson employed as a local nurse, he said the move had been the “perfect fit”.
Regional snapshot
Based on 2021 Census data, the Copper Coast has a population of 15,050, with a median age of 54.
The Yorke Peninsula Council area is home to 11,598 people with a median age of 57, and Barunga West has around 2619 residents, also with a median age of 57.
As more people seek coastal lifestyles, space to raise families and relief from city prices, it seems the call of the country is only getting louder.
City slickers to country livers
The YP Country Times asked its Facebook followers who had recently traded city life for the country on Yorke Peninsula.
Here’s what they had to say…
Lauralee Stewart: Escaped the city in 2023 after being through domestic violence for 11 years in Adelaide. I finally got out and I chose to move to this beautiful little town Kadina. Been here for nearly three years and was the best decision I ever made. As a kid I used to go camping here to Wallaroo North Beach caravan site with my nanna and poppy. Have loved it here ever since I was a kid. Great beaches, lovely nice people in town and most of all it’s the best place in SA!
Grant Hodder: Moved from northern suburbs of Adelaide to Wallaroo Christmas 2023, aged 55, changed careers, love it here, love our town, love the community, made some fantastic friends. The city is not that far if we need to go.
Shari Rose: Moved from Adel to Marion Bay in 2023 with my young family, now I’ve just opened my own business here.
Emma Collins: Moved to Tiddy Widdy Beach end of 2025. Lived in Adelaide most of my life but got too expensive.
Deb Christie: We have just moved to the YP, hubbie has retired and we have built a beautiful home with Country Living Homes, we move in next week. After holidaying here for the last 10 years we finally bit the bullet and made the best decision for life.
Claire Barber: My husband and I moved in October 2023 with our three sons. Moved to Moonta from the city. Lived in the city all our lives but wanted a different lifestyle for our boys and we’re all loving it up here.
Michelle Teddy Thomas: Husband and I lived in the city most of our lives and he lived in Wallaroo for a few years then went back to the city and now we have built in Maitland, moved in April 25. We still travel to Adelaide for work each day, best move ever.
This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 3 February 2026.
