Sydney was Australias most populous city for more than a century, but that is no longer the case. Melbourne, with its fast-growing population on the outskirts of the city, has exceeded Sydney for the first time since the gold rush of the 19th century. This landmark was made feasible after the city borders were expanded to cover the Melton region. According to the most recent population figures from June 2021, Melbournes population has increased to 4,875,400, which is 18,700 more people than Sydney.Melbourne reclaiming the status of Australias biggest cityThe Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines a citys “significant urban area” as all linked suburbs with more than 10,000 residents. As a result of Meltons addition, Melbourne has had more inhabitants than Sydney since 2018. According to ABS spokesperson Andrew Howe, this boundary alteration is technically responsible for Melbournes ascension to become the countrys most populous city.However, some Sydney residents may argue that the ABSs result reveals that Sydney is still the larger metropolis when each citys wider regions are considered. The ABS identifies a citys greater region as its “functional area,” which includes people who live in small towns or rural regions but frequently visit or work in the metropolis. As a result, when the broader Sydney and Melbourne districts were compared in June 2021, Sydney still had a bigger population. After a century-long reign, Melbourne has surpassed Sydney as Australias most populated city.What makes Melbourne a better Australian city than SydneyAccording to the Australian federal government, Greater Melbourne is expected to outnumber Greater Sydney in population by 2031-32. In an interview with the BBC, demographer Liz Allen of the Australian National University said this growth could be linked to foreign migration. Dr Allen remarked that Melbourne has a reputation for celebrating diversity, in contrast to Sydneys historical aversion to it. This feature, combined with comparable career and educational prospects to Sydney, has made Melbourne an appealing destination for migrants.Other major factors that make Melbourne a better choice for urban livingMelbourne has historically been more affordable than Sydney, giving it a more viable alternative for people wishing to relocate to Australia. This combination of affordability and Melbournes lively culture and diversified people makes it an increasingly popular place to live. Interestingly, Melbourne has already held the title of Australias largest city. The late-nineteenth-century gold rush drew a large number of migrants to the state of Victoria, resulting in Melbournes fast growth and domination over Sydney until 1905. While the reasons for Melbournes growth have shifted, the citys history of drawing a varied population has remained consistent, making it a distinctive and culturally rich city primed for continued expansion and prosperity.
