I’m a country girl who moved to Sydney and found out life ISN’T better in the city

• Tori Allen, 20, moved from Orange to Sydney this year
• She said it’s overcrowded, dirty and dangerous for dogs
• Sydneysiders make up 90% of people moving to the country 

A new Sydney resident has slammed the city for being dirty, overcrowded and dangerous for dogs – as new figures show record numbers are fleeing to country towns.

Tori Allen, 20, spent her whole life living in the country, but left her home town of Orange, in the Central Tablelands region of NSW, when she landed a job 250km away in suburban Sydney.

She said the thing she misses most about country life is the privacy of her old home, because living in an apartment means neighbours are always just metres away.

‘I’d much rather live in the country. Sure, you’re further away from everything and have to do crappy jobs like mowing the lawn but you have your own space,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘[In Sydney], if I want a quiet spot to sit and read away from screaming children, sports fields, barking animals or construction work, I have to travel an hour on the bus.

‘Driving myself would take even longer because of all the traffic – it’s insane! I have a headache here all day, every day.’

Ms Allen said one thing she was looking forward to about life in Sydney was the beaches – but was shocked to find many are just as dirty as the streets of the CBD.

‘I was walking on one beach and there was a dead rat in the water,’ she said.

‘There was trash everywhere – condoms, needles – and it’s supposed to be a “family beach”.’

A survey by the Regional Australia Institute found the three main reasons why more than 1,000 city dwellers were looking to move to quieter areas were ‘to reduce the cost of living, avoid traffic and minimise stress’.

Ms Allen agreed, adding that her dogs also had a better life in Orange – which has a population of about 40,000 compared to Sydney’s estimated six million.

‘If I had the chance, I’d choose the country over the city – it’s just nicer. There’s more to do and more room for your pets; pets have a better life in the country,’ she said.

‘If you have dogs in the city, they end up just sitting inside most of the day. When you can finally take them out for a walk, you have to deal with all the inconsiderate [dog] owners.

‘There are so many rude owners here and everywhere you go is busy.

‘I feel so unsafe walking my dogs when there’s people who don’t have the decency to keep their dogs away from mine. Often they don’t even put them on leads.’ 

The RAI also talked to former Sydney couple Steven Wright and James Pollack, who moved to Broken Hill for a six-month contract but ended up staying indefinitely.

‘The career progression has been incredible. Out here in Broken Hill, I’ve been given more responsibilities and been exposed to greater challenges,’ said Mr Wright.

‘The shared experience of living in a remote town connects people in a way that’s incredibly special.

‘I wouldn’t change it for the world.’

Data from the Regional Movers Index shows former Sydneysiders made up 90 per cent of people moving from cities to regional towns between December and March.

It was a massive jump from the 61 per cent majority in the three months to December.

The harsh Covid lockdowns inflicted on city residents saw some 70,000 move to regional areas in the first year of the pandemic alone.

Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritchie believes country living will become more popular as city-slickers realise regional areas are ‘prepped and primed’ for them to move in. 

‘During the pandemic, we saw thousands of Australians make the “move to more”, trading the hustle and bustle of the city for a life in the regions,’ she said.

‘People are realising a move to regional Australia doesn’t mean compromising your career, income or lifestyle.

‘There are well-paying, professional, skilled and entry-level jobs waiting to be filled in country areas.

‘From Toowoomba to Tamworth, Wollongong to Warrnambool, there are dozens of dynamic regional centres ready to welcome city folk with open arms.’