Apparently, you’re not a “local” in the Victorian High Country unless you were born here or until you die here. It’s a strict and fiercely guarded criteria, aimed at preserving a sense of respect for the heritage of the area and those who established themselves before the term “tree change” became a popular phrase to idealise country life.
Regardless of your opinion on the “local” debate, there’s something inherently brilliant about leaving the big smoke for the mountains – especially if you’re a mountain biker. The Covid-induced mountain bike boom (can we please create a short-hand term for this already?) certainly catalysed an influx of residents to Victoria’s High Country. In some ways, this has been to the detriment of the established communities – the ratio of homes to workers to holiday makers is temporarily at crisis levels. But that’s a story for another day.
The fact is, as these interviews will tell, this migration was occurring well before Covid. It’s an organic progression for those who enjoy mountain biking to enjoy being surrounded by natural beauties (or vice versa). And this is exactly what tree change destinations like Bright and surrounds provide. Of course, this area is littered with recently built world-class trail networks; in this way, it’s similar to the
