Melbourne overtakes Sydney to become Australia’s biggest city
Sydney is no longer Australia’s largest city by population — a title it proudly held for over 100 years! It has now been overtaken by Melbourne, which has become the most populous city in the country following a boundary change. The borders of the city have been redrawn to include the district of Melton due to the rapidly growing population on Melbourne’s fringe.
The latest government figures, from June 2021, put Melbourne’s population at 4,875,400 – 18,700 more than Sydney, BBC reported. In its 2022 population statement, Australia’s federal government said that Melbourne was projected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s largest in just under 10 years’ time, in 2031-32.
Talking about the same, Nick Parr, a professor of demography at Macquarie University, told Sydney radio station 2GB, “It’s because more people have been moving out of Sydney, going to other parts of Australia, than have been moving in the opposite direction. Whereas in the case of Melbourne, in some years more people have moved to Melbourne than have moved out.”
Melbourne is an exquisite travel destination (Source: Pixabay)
He added that projections show that the populations of both cities will continue to grow with immigration compensating for the effects of low birth rates in Sydney and Melbourne.
According to Australian National University demographer Liz Allen, Melbourne’s rapid growth is largely thanks to international migration. Unlike Sydney’s “historical hangover” of a time when “it didn’t want to be seen as anything other than white”, Melbourne has a reputation for celebrating diversity, she was quoted as saying by BBC.
Prior to this, Melbourne outnumbered Sydney to become Australia’s most populous city until 1905 as a result of the gold rush in the late 19th century which saw several migrants flock to the state of Victoria.
It is a popular travel destination known for its vibrant culture, world-class cuisine, and stunning architecture. It’s a city that has something for everyone, from art galleries, museums, and theatres to parks, beaches, and sports events.
One of Melbourne’s most famous attractions is the bustling Queen Victoria Market, which offers a vast range of fresh produce, gourmet foods, and unique souvenirs. Other must-see attractions in Melbourne include the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Melbourne Zoo, and the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG. Melbourne is an excellent base for exploring the stunning natural wonders of Victoria, including the Great Ocean Road, the Yarra Valley wine region, and the nearby Phillip Island, home to a colony of adorable little penguins.
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