Craving more space during Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdowns, Gen and James moved out of the city to start a family.

They relocated to regional Victoria, drawn by the promise of affordable housing, a tighter-knit community and a stress-free lifestyle.

"I've never lived in the country, but I really liked the idea of raising kids in a small town and being able to have a backyard, to know people on your street, grow vegetables and live in a community," Gen said.

In many ways, they found the life they were searching for. With their two young children, they felt they'd hit the jackpot arriving in the welcoming, creative community of Castlemaine.

The couple, whose surname has been withheld to protect their professional privacy, bought an affordable family home with a backyard, met a circle of fr

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