How an Outback Town with No Traffic Lights Attracts City Professionals

The remote Queensland town of Julia Creek, with a population of just 550 people, is drawing city professionals seeking a change from the urban grind. The town, located over 1,600 kilometers northwest of Brisbane, has become home to individuals like Jack Pixley, a 30-year-old Sydney native who now manages the local pub.

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My boss bought the pub and asked, 'Do you want to go to Julia Creek and run a pub?' and I said, 'Yeah, why not?'

Pixley described his move as an "eye-opening" experience, initially accepting the job on a whim. He found himself pleasantly surprised by the outback charm and the strong sense of community. "The big one would be the people, the small community we have … they're pretty special," he said.

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When I got here, it was eye-opening. It's a very small town from what I'm used to, obviously, but it's been really good. The big one would be the people, the small community we have … they're pretty special.

Paramedics Kelsea Hogan and Billy Wootton also traded their Brisbane lives for Julia Creek, seeking a more family-friendly environment. They now run the town's ambulance base, appreciating the reduced workload and increased family time compared to their previous demanding shifts in the capital. "We don't have to worry about traffic, busy shopping centres, just the normal day-to-day stuff that you get in busy areas," Wootton explained.

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We were looking for something a bit more family friendly. We had our kids … and we were working opposite shifts in Brisbane. The workload was out of hand and we weren't really spending much time together as a family.

While transitioning to the outback's laid-back lifestyle took some adjustment, Hogan and Wootton say they are happier. Their families, initially skeptical of their move to a town without traffic lights, now understand their contentment. The appeal lies in the simplicity, peace, and close-knit community that Julia Creek offers, a stark contrast to the burnout often experienced in metropolitan areas.

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Now, we're not getting the … shift extensions like we were in Brisbane and leaving before the girls were awake and getting home after they'd gone to bed.