While strong demand for real estate and residential land over the past nine months indicates that the trend has reversed, at the height of the pandemic greater Shepparton’s population declined 0.4 per cent.
The fall represented a net loss of 256 people, with the population falling from 67,042 to 66,786.
While 233 people moved into the municipality, 276 people were lost to internal migration and another 213 relocated overseas.
Despite the decline in greater Shepparton the trend of departing major cities for the regions was taking hold during 2020-21.
The population of regional Australia grew by 70,900 people, in contrast to a decline of 26,000 for the capital cities, according to ABS data.
“This is the first time since 1981 that Australia’s regional population grew more than the capital cities, due to changing migration patterns during the pandemic,” ABS director of demography Beidar Cho said.
Regional NSW (up 26,800) and regional Queensland (24,100) led the way in terms of population growth in 2020-21, with regional Victoria (15,700) also increasing.
In contrast, Melbourne declined by 60,500 people and Sydney by 5200.
The overall decrease of 26,000 reflects increases in four capital cities (Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra) offset by declines in the other four.
It is the first overall population decline for the capitals ever recorded by the ABS.
The capital city decline was due to COVID-19-related international border closures and increased movement to the regions.
The population shift has done little to shift Victoria’s geographical centre of population.
It was in the suburb of Coburg North in June 2020 and has shifted 70m west over 2020-21, reflecting strong growth in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs.
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