‘I quit living in Australia to return to the UK – one thing doesn’t compare to home’

A content creator has opened up about her decision to pack up her life in Australia and return to the UK. Birmingham-based Ellie McClean made the move Down Under two-and-a-half years ago, spending time across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

While she acknowledges feeling “a lot safer” in Australia compared to back home, Ellie insists that nothing can replace the closeness of family and friends.

“I am excited to leave Australia, I feel like it’s so not normalised for people to want to leave,” the 28-year-old shared on her TikTok page.

“When you tell people that you’re wanting to leave, they’re like, ‘Why?’ You either have to pick the lifestyle and the weather or your friends and family and I just think there’s no competition for me.”

When Ellie first touched down in Australia, she envisioned building a permanent life there. Yet after more than two years living abroad, she found herself yearning for the familiar comforts of her Birmingham home.

“After two and a half years of living here, what I’ve realised since being here is that what means most to me is the little things.

“I’ve missed three years of birthdays, little celebrations, dog walks, cups of tea, Sunday roasts, you miss so much that you take for granted when you’re at home,” she shared.

“And you have to move away sometimes to realise what you’ve got.” Discussing what she’s most eagerly anticipating upon her return home, Ellie added: “I’m ready for England, I’m ready for the cold weather, I’m ready for the percy pigs, I’m ready for real fish and chips, actual chippy chips , English tele, to hear English accents.”

Yet, despite her enthusiasm about heading back to the UK after being laid off her job as an influencer marketer, Ellie acknowledges it will be tough to say goodbye to numerous elements of Australian living.

Australia continues to rank amongst the most sought-after destinations for British expats, drawing thousands annually with its balmy climate, breathtaking coastlines, bustling cities, robust healthcare infrastructure and professional prospects.

For Ellie, amongst the hardest things to leave behind will be her proximity to the seaside.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with my free time because I feel like I spend so much at it at the beach,” she revealed.

“And life in general, kangaroos, palm trees, Chemist (Australia’s largest pharmacy retailer Chemist Warehouse), food courts in supermarket, Yo-Chi, coffee in Australia is [also] a million times better than in the UK.”

Might she be persuaded to relocate back to Australia down the line? Ellie told us: “I’m travelling for six months before heading home indefinitely. I’ve got no plans to move back but I would 100 per cent recommend others to live there and try it out. It’s been such an amazing experience living here but there’s no place like home.”