Buyer diary: How this family made the move from Sydney to Stanley

In our new Buyer Diary series, you’ll meet recent first-home buyers, next home buyers and investors from around the country and discover how they made their property purchase.

Moving to the countryside was a long-held dream for Susan Duong, her partner Simon Miller and their two children.

Here, Susan shares how smart property moves, a love for adventure and a leap of faith took them from Sydney’s inner city to a new life in Stanley, a small regional town in north-eastern Victoria.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what prompted the move from Sydney?

I’m Susan Duong, and my partner is Simon Miller. We have two kids, Walter and Zuri.

For years, we lived in small terrace homes in inner-city Sydney, which we loved for the lifestyle and convenience. But, as the kids grew, we started craving more space. The idea of raising them in nature, at a slower pace, became more appealing. This felt like the right time to make a change while they were still young enough to adapt.

When did you start searching for a home, and how long did the process take?

Our search began in mid-2022, and by September 2023, we had made the move – 15 months in total. Initially, we looked at regional NSW and even considered Tasmania.

Finding the right property wasn’t easy. We wanted five to six acres (two to 2.4 hectares) of usable land, a separate lodge or studio for a home office, good schools nearby, and access to a small town.

Simon’s sister Megan, who lives 20 minutes from Stanley, suggested looking in Victoria and helped inspect properties on our behalf. Six months of searching later, we found a home that ticked every box.

Properties in Victoria were selling fast, so we had to act immediately and work closely with the agent to secure it.

How did you approach the financial side of the move?

We’ve been really fortunate to get into property investment early on, through hard work and smart decisions. This allowed us the flexibility to use our Sydney home as collateral for the Stanley deposit. However, the move required a lifestyle shift. Simon stepped away from his work as an MC, and we adjusted to living on a single income. I work as a sales and marketing director for Firebrand Digital, a performance marketing agency, with the ability to work remotely.

Budget-wise, we stayed on track but expected any home we bought to need some work. That was part of our decision-making from the start.

How has life changed since moving to Stanley?

Transitioning from a city where everything is readily available to a rural town required a major adjustment. Simple conveniences like utilities, internet access and nearby shops now take more planning, making patience essential.

That said, we couldn’t be happier. The community is welcoming, and even with more space between neighbours, there’s a strong sense of connection. The slower pace has been a gift for our family.

The kids have adapted so well, and we’ve rediscovered how much we love the outdoors. Most of all, this move reaffirmed that home is about the people, not just the place.

What’s next for your family? Do you see Stanley as your long-term home?

We plan to stay at least until the kids reach high school. This chapter is about embracing country living, making our home our own, and enjoying the space we longed for. Who knows what the future holds? But for now, Stanley is home – our little countryside oasis.