Why move to Melbourne?
By Alanna Washington, Principal Consultant, Hinchen Recruitment Group
It’s no secret that Melbourne provides exciting opportunities for professionals of all industries. As one of Australia’s busiest cities, for those who currently work here and for those thinking about living here, there are so many options for you. For anyone new to Melbourne, it’s often fondly referred to as “Melbs” or even by some as “Gotham” because it was founded by John Batman. As the state capital of Victoria – it’s the go-to destination for many Australians seeking a unique blend of multiculturalism, great food culture and world class sporting events such as the Australian open, Australian Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup. And let’s not forget the AFL, AFLW and the wonderful Melbourne United Team in the NBL.
As the nation’s fastest growing metropolis, the current metro population of Melbourne in 2024 is 5,316,000, a 1.55% increase from 2023. Melbourne was named Australia’s most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index in 2023 and #3 most liveable city in the world based on five broad categories that included infrastructure, healthcare, stability, culture, environment, and education.
So, what is it about Melbourne that is making people want to live, stay, or move here you ask? And no it’s not just the coffee 😉 After conducting my own research and pondering over this thought myself (I was born in Melbourne but left when I was 24 to pursue a career in Hong Kong for 11 years), I had to think about why I came back 9 years ago (besides wanting to raise my sons here) and this is what I came up with as my top 6 reasons:
- Living and working in Melbourne offers the rewards of an exceptional healthcare system, outstanding educational facilities and world-class infrastructure that allows for fast and efficient commuting.
- Melbourne offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle - with an atmosphere fuelled by diversity. The city centre is surrounded by distinctive suburbs, each with their own unique character, charm, and communities. Melbourne is globally recognised as one of the most concentrated dining and fashion cultures in the world. In the CBD you will find charming, often quirky, laneways, such as the popular Hardware Lane, full of eclectic boutiques and rare, exciting eateries. Amongst this thriving scene.
- Melbourne has a rich sense of history. The elegant Parliament House building on Spring Street (Paris End of the CDB) is a popular meeting spot for Melbournians surrounded by lush gardens and places to eat your lunch and have a coffee with friends or colleagues. Then there is the famous Queen Victoria Markets offering a huge variety of fresh food, flowers, and gifts. Not to mention the majestic Yarra River and famous Melbourne trams that will take you to the suburbs and beyond.
- Melbourne is not just the cultural and recreational hub of Victoria; it’s also a business and administrative focal point with a thriving professional services sector. The city has attracted investment from across the globe in various sectors such as digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, and clean energy. The strength and diversity of Melbourne’s business sector means more opportunities for you to enrich your skillset and achieve your career goals.
- Living and working in Melbourne offers many rewards – including peace of mind. Melbourne is one of the safest, healthiest, and cleanest cities in the world. One of the many reasons it has attracted people from all over the world, with over 140 cultures represented including recent migrants from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The city’s high standard of living and social inclusion also saw Melbourne voted as Australia's best student city and the third best in the world by QS Best Student Cities.
- Melbournians can enjoy a huge range of leisure activities. From walking the tan in South Yarra, having a picnic at the Botanical Gardens or a dip in the bay - we have it all. Melbourne makes outdoors living easy with almost 480 hectares of parklands, including the 170-hectare Royal Park featuring bushland landscapes perfect for hiking. Head across Port Phillip Bay to Phillip Island – home to the world’s largest Little Penguin colony. Or explore The Great Ocean Road on the south-west coast of Victoria, one of the world's most scenic coastal drives. And despite having famous beaches, such as St Kilda right on the city’s doorstep, Melbourne is just a 2-hour drive from some of Victoria’s best-loved ski fields, we basically get all the 4 seasons in a day here.
Not only is there plenty to see and do, when you live and work in Melbourne, you can benefit from the commitment of Australian employers to support a healthy work-life balance. Commitment, effort, and talent are rewarded and on the plus side you generally won’t face some of the expectations that workplaces in other global cities demand.
Melbourne gives everyone a chance to explore new opportunities and the possibility to even try a different industry or sector to broaden your skillset.
Now could be the time to assess your career path no matter whether you are thinking about making the move to Melbourne from interstate or another country. If you want to learn about some of the exciting career opportunities in Melbourne, head over to our website at www.hinchen.com.au to check out our job board or get in contact with some of our expert recruiters.
