Ellie McClean, a Birmingham-based content creator, recently made the heartfelt decision to leave Australia after two and a half years and return home to the UK. Having lived across Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, Ellie acknowledges the safety and lifestyle benefits of Australia but says nothing compares to being close to loved ones.
“I’m excited to leave Australia— it’s not often talked about wanting to return,” the 28-year-old shared on her TikTok. “People always ask, ‘Why?’ You have to choose between lifestyle and weather or friends and family. For me, that choice is clear.”
When Ellie first moved, she thought she would stay forever. Yet, after years overseas, she found herself missing the small, everyday moments back in Birmingham: birthdays, dog walks, cups of tea, and Sunday roasts.
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“I’ve missed three years of little celebrations you only truly appreciate when you’re away,” she said. “Sometimes it takes moving away to realise what you have.”
Looking forward to her return, Ellie is eager for the comforts of home: “I’m ready for the cold, Percy Pigs, proper fish and chips, English TV, and hearing English accents again.”
Though Ellie is grateful for her time in Australia, where the warm beaches, distinctive wildlife, and vibrant cities made life exciting, some things will be hard to leave behind—including the beach life and better coffee.
“I spend so much free time at the beach—I’m not sure what I’ll do without it,” she admitted. Other Australian staples Ellie will miss include kangaroos, palm trees, Chemist Warehouse, food courts, and Yo-Chi frozen yogurt.
While she’s open to travelling for six months before settling indefinitely in the UK, Ellie doesn’t rule out living in Australia again someday. “I’d recommend everyone try it,” she said, “but there really is no place like home.”