A new campaign will attempt to entice city-dwellers into Wagga by flaunting the very best that the country lifestyle has to offer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Country Change magazine was launched on Thursday by Regional Development Australia, which is trying to help Wagga hit its goal of 100,000 people by 2038.
The campaign is run alongside Wagga City Council , which is offering to give personal welcome tours to any new arrivals who are thinking about making Wagga their home.
One such new arrival is Sydney artist Julie Roche, who escaped the city life alongside her husband Mick and her children.
Mrs Roche has found a community among the Wagga arts scene, and she says her family have also been able to set down comfortable roots.
"We are really enjoying Wagga, particularly in the current climate with everything going on with COVID there's never been a better time to be living in a regional town," Mrs Roche said.
"Wagga's a really awesome independent town, we've got everything here and it's a short trip to get to Melbourne or Sydney."
Colombian couple Julian and Liliana Lopez escaped their city life with hopes of one day raising a family, something that seemed impossible in their cramped Sydney home.
They were able to afford a spacious house in Wagga, something that Mr Lopez said would not be possible in Sydney on their current income.
They have lived in Wagga for about one year, and Mr Julian the two of them were much happier here.
"We were driven by the fact we had never lived in the countryside, so it was a kind of experiment," Mr Lopez said.
"We like it very much. Wagga is full of friendly people, all the facilities are around here, and it's a beautiful place with a great potential. The fact is' between Sydney and Melbourne make it a very good spot for business."
Committee4Wagga's Alan Johnston made the country change when he moved from Scotland, and when he first arrived in Australia his Scottish accent was so thick that nobody could understand him.
He quickly grew to love Wagga, saying the city could boast the best of both worlds with plenty of job opportunities while also offering a relaxed rural lifestyle.
"I worked for a global organisation and looked after Australia and New Zealand operations from here in Wagga, so it can be done," Mr Johnston said.
"I was able to enjoy all of this, and then every now and then jump on a plane to Asia and the States, and then come back here and enjoy a normal life."
Resident Sophie Uden was born and raised in Wagga before moving to Perth, but said moved back after the call to home became too overpowering.
Having lived in both worlds Ms Uden said she much prefers the country lifestyle, saying she missed the clean country air and the wide open spaces that were non-existent in Perth.
"I came back home about seven years ago because I realised what I was missing out on," Ms Uden said.
"Being in the country's great. We've got all the facilities you could need and the lifestyle can't be beat. We have fresh air, sense of space, things you can't get in the city."
READ MORE:
RDA Riverina's Rachel Whiting sold her five acres in the Hunter Valley and was able to buy 52 acres over in Wagga.
"I've lived regionally all over Australia and I've lived in cities too, but I would much prefer living in the country," Ms Whiting said.
"In places like Wagga we've got a lot of facilities. We don't need to go to other places, and if we do it's really not far. It really is the best of both worlds."