There's nowhere to live and it's too expensive... but more Brits and Irish coming to Australia than ever - and here's why they never want to go home

Irish and English citizens arriving to Sydney in droves Beachside suburb has been renamed 'County Coogee'  READ MORE: How Irishman who was just finding his feet in Australia was left 'broken everywhere' and fighting for life after horror accident

Thousands of Brits and Irish are moving to Australia after being wooed with the prospect of more sun, world-class beaches, cash and even finding a partner.

Up to 38,177 working holiday visas were granted to UK citizens in the 12 months to June 2023 compared to 20,090 the previous year – an increase of 90 per cent.

Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 up to 21,525 working holiday visas were granted to Irish citizens, double the 10,491 visas that were allocated last year, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

This was the highest number of visas granted to Irish citizens in 16 years.

Visa First business manager Nune Troy said she expects that number to grow.

‘There are just more opportunities in the jobs market and better money, but I think it’s the cost of living and housing situation as well in the big cities like Dublin,’ she told Independent News & Media.

‘Since Australia relaxed its visa regulations in 2022 after the pandemic, Irish citizens up to 35 years of age can now apply for a working holiday visa, whereas before the maximum age was 30. So I think this has also increased numbers.’

Sally Cope, Tourism Australia’s Regional General Manager for UK & Northern Europe said that many are attracted to the beach lifestyle Australia has to offer.

Irishmen Kieran and Lorcan enjoyed a dip at Coogee Beach on Monday despite the rain

‘Australia also offers an incredible lifestyle – where else can you be in the boardroom at 4pm and by the beach an hour later?’ she said.

‘We’re sure there are many 30-35-year-olds who thought they had missed their chance to live and work Down Under, who will jump at this exciting prospect; and Australia is ready to welcome them.’

Many Irish and Brits choose to live near Sydney’s eastern beaches for the vibrant expat community and the convenience of having the beach at their doorstep.

Friends Killian and Grace, from Kilkenny in Ireland’s southeast, were spending their morning applying for jobs in the Coogee Bay Hotel on Monday.

The pair agreed that more of the friends they had made in school and college are currently living in Australia than in Ireland – making the trip a no-brainer.

‘My mum’s sister came out when she was younger with her boyfriend and never came home,’ Killian told Daily Mail Australia.

‘They live in the Central Coast now, they’ve got five kids and they probably go back to Ireland every couple of years.

‘So I knew I would have a good support system to come out to and then just the weather, the life, like, it’s more of a chilled lifestyle than back home.’

Friends Killian and Grace from Kilkenny in Ireland’s southeast were applying for jobs

Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney’s east is a popular hangout spot for Irish and English citizens

Killian spent over three years working in construction management in London and said life had felt ‘rushed and busy all the time’.

‘I knew from friends and family being here that it’s more relaxed. So I think I needed that before I fell down,’ he says with a laugh.

Grace said most of her friends were already living or travelling in Australia before she arrived three weeks ago from London.

She has been able to secure a rental in Clovelly where she lives with friends.

‘All our friends are here. There’s more here than at home at the moment,’ she said.

Killian has just three close friends in Ireland, who are only there because they’re tied up in work contracts or in relationships with people who don’t want to move.

The pair said they would feel more settled once they had a job and a place to live.

‘Until then you’re a bit uneasy,’ Grace said.

Killian added that he was enjoying peaceful mornings on the beach that he would otherwise be spending on a noisy tube in London.

Lorcan, a personal trainer, is hoping to stay in Australia for as long as possible

Many said they were drawn to the laidback lifestyle and job opportunities in Australia

James, 27, intends to stay for three to four years despite being ‘below average’ at surfing

Several travellers were seen arriving in Coogee in a post-Christmas rush on Monday

Friends Kieran and Lorcan had just enjoyed a dip at Coogee Beach despite the rain.

Lorcan, a personal trainer, is hoping to stay in Australia for as long as possible.

Kieran, who works in construction and lives in the eastern suburbs, conceded there were ‘too many’ Irish people in Australia right now.

James, 27, from Dublin, has lived in Australia for just over a year and spends roughly six to seven minutes every day thinking about home.

However, he insists he doesn’t feel homesick due to the large Irish community in Sydney’s east that has welcomed him in with open arms.

He intends to stay for three to four years despite being ‘below average’ at surfing.

Ellie, who has spent three months in Australia, says she thinks of the UK and her family often

Irishman James (right) works for Seeing Eye Dogs Australia with Ellie, from the UK (left)

The beachside suburb has been renamed ‘Country Coogee’ due to the amount of Irish arrivals

James works for Seeing Eye Dogs with Ellie, 24, from Worcestershire in the UK.

Ellie, who has spent three months in Australia, said she still finds it hard to be away from family and miss out on a cold Christmas.

She said her friendship group consisted of more Irish and English people than Australians and that she was planning to travel along the east coast this year.

Nicholas Sweeney, from Galway, had landed in Australia just hours before he headed to the Coogee Bay Hotel to have a pint with his cousin Danielle.

‘I work in recruitment and apparently recruitment is booming over here,’ he said.

‘So I’m hopefully going to get into that. So far so good, apart from the rain.

‘Everyone around has been lovely, so friendly and helpful.’

Nicholas said so far the pros had been the weather, the food and the shopping and that in the short time he had been in Australia it already felt like a second home.

Nicholas from Galway (pictured with his cousin Danielle) is hoping to get a job in recruitment

Many were still enjoying a dip at Coogee Beach on Monday despite the gloomy day

A man and woman are seen arriving at their new home on Coogee’s main strip

Personal trainer James Smith moved to Australia in October 2016 as a ‘broke backpacker’ and has never looked back.

He said moving was the ‘single best decision’ of his life and listed reasons why Australia is a great place to live, including its affordability, lifestyle, coffee and being able to reinvent yourself.

‘You should quit whatever you’re doing and move to Australia,’ James said.

‘I can’t express how great coming here was for every part of my health, my mental health, my business, my relationships and everything.

‘In Australia even living in Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world, is cheaper than London and I just can’t quite fathom that, so Australia is a lot more affordable.’

James added Australia is a really good place to be ‘poor’.

‘When I came here as a backpacker, even if I was spending the least amount of money possible, I could spend my days down here [at the beach] chilling out, reading a book and figuring out myself,’ he said.

He said living ‘a long way from home’ can be tough and at times he misses his family but added the flight home is only ‘a day away’.

British personal trainer James Smith (pictured) moved to Australia in October 2016, claiming it was the ‘single best decision of his life’

‘It’s a day away. Yeah it’s 21 hours of flying but everywhere is a day away,’ he said.

Earlier this year, Western Australia’s police minister Paul Papali lead a delegation of Australians on a nine-day tour of the UK with the aim of recruiting 30,000 Brits to work in Australia’s police force, hospitals and hospitality industry.

‘Our wages are higher and our cost of living is lower. Our health system is world class. You will be taken care of,’ he said.

‘The wages in the UK are far lower, the conditions are worse and resourcing appears to be far worse. So there’s all manner of reasons why WA is more attractive.

‘It’s lower cost of living, higher wages and magnificent weather. What’s not to like?’