People flee cities for regions during COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures: ABS

Once the world's most locked-down city, Melbourne had the steepest overall population decline, losing 60,500 people.

Meanwhile, regional Australia's population increased by 70,900, or 0.9 per cent.

The net population decline was made up of 84,700 overseas and 49,200 internal migration losses against natural growth of 107,900.

The overall decline of the capital cities' population of 0.1 per cent was, however, not uniform, with Brisbane actually increasing its population by 21,900; Perth by 16,169; Adelaide by 1895 and Canberra by 398.

These figures reflect the impact of COVID-related border closures over the period, with all capital cities experiencing net overseas migration losses, felt most acutely in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.

Outside the capital cities, the highest numerical growth and growth rate was recorded in Pimpama on Queensland's Gold Coast - up by 2800 people or 13 per cent.

The urban areas which grew the most numerically were those on the fringes of Australia's two biggest cities: Riverstone-Marsden Park in Sydney's northwest by 7400 people; Cobbitty-Leppington in Sydney's outer southwest by 5400; and Cranbourne East in Melbourne's outer south-east by 5000.

The highest growth rates as percentages were found in: Throsby in Canberra's outer northeast, up by 38 per cent; Rockbank-Mount Cottrell in Melbourne's outer west, up by 34 per cent, and; Mickleham-Yuroke in Melbourne's outer north, up by 28 per cent.

By local government area, the highest growth rates in NSW were Maitland (up 3.5 per cent), Cessnock (up 2.9 per cent) and Shellharbour (up 2.3 per cent).

In Victoria, the Surf Coast LGA grew by 4.4 per cent. followed by Melton at 3.9 per cent, Bass Coast by 3.7 per cent and Mitchell by 3.3 per cent.

In Queensland, Ipswich recorded the highest growth rate at three per cent, followed by Weipa at 2.5 per cent, Sunshine Coast and Mapoon at 2.1 per cent each.

In South Australia, Mount Barker grew by 3.3 per cent, followed by Adelaide Plains and Alexandrina, both by 2.3 per cent, Gawler by 1.8 per cent and Kangaroo Island by 1.7 per cent.

In Western Australia, on Perth's outer southeast, Serpentine-Jarrahdale grew by 3.4 per cent, followed by Kwinana, up by 3 per cent, Cue, up by 2.9 per cent, and Augusta-Margaret River, up by 2.6 per cent.

In Tasmania, Brighton grew by 2.7 per cent, followed by Break O'Day ay 2.6 per cent, Latrobe by 2.1 per cent and Northern Midlands by 1.9 per cent.

In the Northern Territory, the Darwin Waterfront Precinct grew by 2.2 per cent followed by by Palmerston by 1.4 per cent and McDonnell by 1.4 per cent.

ABS demographer Andrew Howe said the most interesting aspect to the latest figures was the net overall decline in capital city populations.

"Given the large increases in capital city growth over previous years, decades, it's certainly the most interesting feature," he said.

A large driver of the city population decline has been the closure of the international border during the pandemic.

"For a few quarters now the ABS has released overseas migration numbers that are basically zilch in net terms. Traditionally, overseas migrants go to capitals much more than they go to the regions," Mr Howe said.

He was cautious about ascribing any reasons for the outflow of population from the capitals, particularly Melbourne, which endured longest lockdown.

"We don't ask reasons for people moving. But certainly Melbourne has shown the most interesting contrast in terms of its population last year compared to previous years. Up until a couple of years ago more people moved into Melbourne than moved out of Melbourne."

For those undertaking sea or tree changes, areas within relatively easy reach of the capitals appear to be the most popular destinations.

"In Melbourne it's Surf Coast. There was a slight increase in Ballarat and Bendigo as well. In NSW it's the mid North Coast area north of Newcastle which has had small increases of people moving from the capitals."