Why so many people are making the move to Tasmania

It’s no secret that Tasmania is a haven for those escaping the rat race and the heat. With its cooler climes, local produce and natural beauty it’s a hot spot for interstate and international visitors. 

But with greater opportunities to work remotely, more affordable real estate and now a pandemic in the mix, more people are permanently relocating to the state in search of a new life.  

In CommSec’s State of the States economic performance report, Tasmania had a 1.12 per cent annual population growth rate, 89.1 per cent above its average for the decade. 

To September 2020, Tassie topped five of the eight indicators and had the fastest annual growth in home prices – up 8.2 per cent.   

Diane Reed, founder of Facebook community, That’s it! I’m moving to Tassie!! moved from Victoria in 2017. Her page has more than 16,600 members, and recently attracted 300 new members in one week.

“We are definitely seeing an increase in members,” she says. “People are realising they may as well be living in a place that makes them happy. Here it’s all about the scenery, the air, the relaxed style of living.”

Stephanie Gammage along with her husband and young son moved from Sydney to north-west Tasmania in September. She had holidayed in the state, but the pull to move there became serious when she had a little boy.

“I wanted a better life for him. Crime was bad in Sydney, and our property didn’t have enough space for him to play outside.” 

They found their dream home online and flew down to inspect. They put their Sydney home on the market and made an offer on the Tassie house subject to sale.

“We got 17 acres with two homesteads for the same price as our house on 650 square metres of land in Sydney,” she says. “We were so close to our neighbours before, here I can’t even see them.”

Retiree Melanie Jonker moved to Tasmania to escape Brisbane’s climate.

“I’ve always hated the humidity, and Brisbane is humid seven months a year.”

She put her Cleveland home on the market in June 2020. The house settled just before Christmas and she drove straight to Tasmania. 

She had been looking at real estate online before she made the move.

“I could see prices going through the roof. I kept thinking, ‘Leave a house for me!’ ”

She looked at homes the day after she arrived and bought the first house she saw.  

“I thought, if I don’t snap this up, it will be gone.” 

Jonker’s new home is in Kelso, an hour from Launceston. 

“It’s a double block and overlooks the water. It’s perfect.” 

Karl Gallienne, of Harcourts Huon Valley, says interstate interest in Tasmanian property has steadily grown in the last few years as people realise how appealing it is as a place to live.

“Climate refugees and population escapees are the two key groups of interstate buyers,” he says.

“But now we’ve got the covid factor, and people want to be somewhere where there is more certainty of continuing life normally.”

Gallienne says a few factors are influencing the growth in Tasmanian real estate.

“During lockdown people realised that their living situations weren’t ideal. They’re also taking advantage of being able to borrow money cheaply with the current low interest rates.”

Jonker says she is “100 per cent happy” with the move and feels a sense of community already.

Gammage has also been welcomed by the locals. 

“People have time down here. You talk to someone and they’re not in a hurry to stop talking to you.”

She’s feeling positive about the future.

“We’ve done the right thing by our son,” she says. “He’s an outdoor boy which is what I wanted for him. I want him to have a magical upbringing.”