There’s a widespread, idealistic narrative that depicts raising a family in a small country town as the blueprint for a healthy existence; enjoying a slower, safer, more peaceful lifestyle nestled amongst picturesque, natural landscapes.
People choose to return to their hometown for many reasons. Social ties, nostalgia, and a sense of attachment may draw someone back, as they desire to raise a family in the environment that shaped them.
So, do those who grew up in the Valley plan to live here long-term?
I conducted a poll on social media, to which 19 young Valley residents and ex-residents responded.
58 percent (11 participants) indicated that they saw a future living in the Valley, compared to 42 percent (8 participants) that did not.
22-year-old Charlie Rodden was amongst those intending to pursue a life here.
“I think it’s a good little, tight-knit community…a good environment for children to grow up in.”
“I feel most at peace and at home when I am on the farm.” Explains Molly Good (23).
“My childhood was so special because of my beautiful family and growing up on the land. Watching Dad and Mum care so much for our farm and animals has instilled the same values in myself.”
Good credits her family’s dedication to maintaining the farm in solidifying their connection to this town.
“My parents have always been fabulous role models, and I think the way they raised me and my siblings on the farm definitely strengthened our attachment to KV.”
However, it is important to acknowledge the potential challenges of regional living.
Increased risk of natural disasters, including drought, bushfires and flooding can cause significant stress on small town residents. The poll results showed that for 8 of the 19 poll respondents (42 percent), the prominence of extreme weather events could influence their decision to settle down in KV.
I’m sure many of us reading are familiar with the road closures that periodically appear on the Barrengarry and Cambewarra mountains following periods of heavy rainfall. Notably, during the 2022 floods Moss Vale Rd experienced 50 landslips (ABC News, 2023).
Some of Kangaroo Valley’s younger demographic also expressed concern regarding the limited employment opportunities here.
The poll revealed that out of 14 respondents, 9 (64 percent) felt that work would be an issue if they opted to stay in the Valley.
Pursuing a trade is a common route. Rodden is currently undertaking a carpentry apprenticeship alongside casual shifts at the Friendly Inn. According to the 2021 census, 11.6 percent of those 15 years and older in the workforce were tradespeople and technicians (ABS).
You can even find job opportunities advertised via the Kangaroo Valley community Facebook page, with some young Valley residents expressing their eagerness to pick up one-off labour tasks where needed. 12.3 percent of the working population described themselves as labourers (ABS, 2021).
Whilst there are also hospitality and retail gigs available in town many commute to work, such as my mum who works in Mittagong.
The COVID-19 pandemic popularised working from home arrangements, causing a spike in city-dwellers relocating to more rural or coastal towns whilst maintaining their jobs (RMIT, 2022). Findings showed that in 2023 this trend was persisting, with rates of urban residents moving to the country 11.7 percent higher than average pre-Covid levels (Regional Australia Institute).
However, the future of remote work is hard to predict as many employers are aiming to bring workers back into the office at least a few times a week by the end of 2024 (Raphael, 2024).
But I’m sure that for many KV locals, being able to return to this beautiful village after a long day of work makes it well worth the drive.
