Something interesting has been happening in Ballarat over the past two years, and it’s not getting enough attention outside the region. Melbourne tech workers are moving here. Not in a trickle — in meaningful numbers. And they’re not just sleeping here and commuting. They’re building something.

I’ve been tracking the regional tech scene for a while now, and the shift is real. What started during COVID as a “let’s escape the city” impulse has matured into a genuine migration pattern driven by economics, lifestyle, and — surprisingly — community.

The numbers tell the story

According to Business Victoria’s regional development data, the Ballarat region saw a 23% increase in technology sector ABN registrations between 2023 and 2025. That’s not just people working remotely for Melbourne employers. That’s people starting businesses, registering as contractors, and setting up shop.

The City of Ballarat’s own economic data shows that the “professional, scientific and technical services” sector has been the fastest-growing employment category in the region for three consecutive years. It’s not mining. It’s not agriculture. It’s tech.

And anecdotally, I can tell you that the co-working spaces in Ballarat are busier than they’ve ever been. The Ballarat Technology Park, which had vacancy issues five years ago, is now nearly full. A new co-working space opened on Lydiard Street last November and was at 80% capacity by January.

Why Ballarat, specifically?

There are plenty of regional Victorian towns within commuting distance of Melbourne. Geelong, Bendigo, Castlemaine — they all get mentioned in the “move to the regions” conversation. So why is Ballarat punching above its weight on the tech front?

A few factors.

The train. V/Line’s Ballarat service is reliable enough that the two or three days a month most remote workers need to be in Melbourne are manageable. An hour and fifteen minutes, and you’re at Southern Cross. It’s not fast, but it’s predictable. Compare that to trying to drive from the outer eastern suburbs to the CBD in morning traffic — often the same duration but far more stressful.

Housing affordability. The median house price in Ballarat is still roughly 40-45% below Melbourne’s. For a tech worker earning a Melbourne salary remotely, that’s an enormous quality-of-life upgrade. You can buy a four-bedroom house with a garden for what a two-bedroom apartment costs in the inner west.

Federation University. This gets overlooked, but having a university with IT and engineering programs means there’s a pipeline of graduates, a culture of learning, and events and infrastructure that support a knowledge economy. Fed Uni’s tech precinct partnerships have been quietly productive.

The existing community. This is the self-reinforcing part. As more tech workers arrive, the community gets stronger, which attracts more tech workers. The Ballarat Tech meetup that started with 15 people in a pub in 2023 now regularly draws 60-80. There are Slack channels, informal mentoring networks, and even a small angel investment group that formed last year.

Real stories from the ground

I spoke to three people who made the move in the past 18 months.

Sam, a software engineer who worked for a Melbourne SaaS company, moved to Ballarat in mid-2024 with his partner. “We were renting a one-bedroom in Footscray for $2,100 a month. We bought a house here with a mortgage payment of $1,800. The maths was obvious.” He still works for the same company, going into the Melbourne office one day a week.

Rachel, a UX designer, left her agency role to go freelance when she moved to Ballarat. “I was worried about being isolated. But I joined the co-working space on Sturt Street, and within a month I had more professional connections than I’d made in two years in Melbourne. The community is smaller, but people actually show up.”

Tom, a DevOps engineer, moved from Collingwood to Creswick, just outside Ballarat. “My commute went from 45 minutes on a packed tram to a 15-minute drive through farmland. I’m more productive, I’m less stressed, and I can afford a house with a workshop. I should’ve done this years ago.”

It’s not all perfect

I’d be dishonest if I didn’t mention the challenges. Internet connectivity is inconsistent in some parts of the region. If you’re on the NBN fixed line in central Ballarat, you’re fine. Out toward the edges of the region, you might be on fixed wireless or satellite, which doesn’t cut it for video-heavy work.

The dining and entertainment options, while improving, aren’t Melbourne. If you need a different restaurant every Friday night, Ballarat will feel small. Though I’d argue the quality of what’s here — places like Craig’s Royal Hotel and the dining scene on Bridge Mall — is excellent. You just don’t have the volume.

And some people underestimate the social adjustment. Moving to a regional city when you don’t know anyone requires effort. The tech community is welcoming, but you have to show up. Nobody’s going to knock on your door.

What this means for the region

I think Ballarat is at an inflection point. The tech community has reached a size where it’s self-sustaining — it doesn’t need external programs or government incentives to keep growing, though those certainly help. The Victorian Government’s regional tech fund has supported several local initiatives, and the City of Ballarat has been proactive about positioning the region as a tech hub.

The challenge now is infrastructure. If the region wants to keep attracting knowledge workers, it needs to invest in connectivity, co-working facilities, and the kind of urban amenities that young professionals expect. The bones are here. The opportunity is here. It just needs intentional support.

For Melbourne tech workers who haven’t considered a regional move — especially those grinding through long commutes, eye-watering rent, and the relentless pace of city life — Ballarat deserves a look. Drive up on a Saturday. Walk around the lake. Check out the co-working spaces. Talk to people who’ve made the move.

You might be surprised.