I’m a country woman who moved to Sydney and discovered that life is NOT superior in the metropolis

A brand new Sydney resident has slammed the city for being dirty, overcrowded and bad for dogs – new figures show how many people are fleeing to country towns.

20-year-old Tori Allen has spent her entire life in the countryside, but left her hometown of Orange in NSW’s Central Tablelands when she started a job 155 miles away in the Sydney suburbs.

She stated that what she misses most about public life is the privacy of her previous home, as living in an apartment means that neighbors are always just meters away.

“I would rather live in the countryside. Of course, you’re further away from all the chores and have to do horrible jobs like mowing the garden, but you’ve got your own personal territory,” she told Daily Mail Australia.

“(in Sydney) if I want a quiet place to read away from screaming children, sports fields, barking animals or construction work, an hour away by bus.

‘The drive itself would take even longer because of all the traffic – it’s crazy! I have a headache here all day, every day.

Ms Allen said one of the factors that stood out to her when looking for housing in Sydney was the seaside, but she was shocked to find many were just as dirty as the streets of the CBD.

“I was walking down the beach and there was a dead rat in the water,” she said.

“There was litter everywhere – condoms, needles, and it must be a ‘family beach’.”

An investigation conducted by Australian Regional Institute found that the top three reasons more than 1,000 city dwellers wanted to move to quieter areas were “to reduce the cost of living, avoid traffic and reduce stress”.

Ms Allen agreed, adding that her dogs also have 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 would prefer the countryside to the city – it’s just very pleasant. There’s more to do and more space for your pets; pets have a bigger life in the countryside,” she pointed out.

“If you have dogs in the city, they are indoors most of the day. When you finally get to let them out, you’ll have to deal with all the careless (dog) owners.

“There are so many rude landlords and everywhere you go is busy.

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

RAI also spoke to former Sydney pair Steven Wright and James Pollack, who moved to Broken Hill on a six-month deal but ended up staying indefinitely.

“The career progression has been incredible. Here at Broken Hill, I have been given more responsibilities and greater challenges,” said Mr Wright.

“The shared experience of living in a remote town bonds people in an incredibly special way.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Data from Regional Mover Index reveals that former Sydneysiders made up 90% of people who moved from cities to regional cities between December and March.

This was a huge jump from a 61% majority in the three months to December.

Due to the extreme Covid lockdown imposed on metropolitan residents, around 70,000 people moved to regional areas in the first year of the pandemic alone.

Liz Ritchie, managing director of the Australia Institute, believes rural life will become even more stylish as urban dwellers find regional areas are “prepped and ready” for manoeuvres.

“During the pandemic, we’ve seen thousands of Australians make the ‘more move’, leaving the hustle and bustle of cities to live in the regions,” she said.

“People are realizing that moving to regional Australia doesn’t mean putting your career, income or lifestyle at risk.

“There are high-paying, professional, skilled and entry-level jobs waiting to be filled in rural areas.

“From Toowoomba to Tamworth, from Wollongong to Warrnambool, dozens of vibrant regional centers are ready to welcome city dwellers with open arms.”