The Melbourne chiefs could not believe somebody would willingly live in the country and Ms Ajay’s friends were also sceptical.

“They were like what the hell are you doing?” she said.

“My bosses at BMW laughed when I first told them, they didn’t think I was serious.

“They all come and visit now and the only thing holding them back from doing the same thing is jobs and transport.”

Ms Ajay, 27, moved in 2014 after landing a job with the Winemakers of Rutherglen.

The executive officer had never lived outside Melbourne, but now has a house with a pool, a pony and chooks.

“Those things you can’t afford in Melbourne with a four-bedroom home,” Ms Ajay said.

She mentioned her shift at a population forum hosted by Victorian Liberal politician Tim Smith in Wodonga on Thursday.

The Kew MP is taking feedback for an Opposition report on population and how growth can be funneled beyond Melbourne.

He said Ms Ajay’s case was a fine example of how if more Melburnians knew of the benefits of the country living they may move.

“There’s just a lack of understanding in Melbourne about property prices in regional areas, how affordable they are, and the genuine job opportunities,” Mr Smith said.

He believes there should be government-backed advertising to boost awareness.

“There is surely a legitimate role for the state working with the private sector to get the message out there that your options are not limited to Melbourne and the outer suburbs,” Mr Smith said.

Ms Ajay, a marketing graduate, would promote the area via a dedicated website aimed at tree-changers.

It would have interviews with those who have moved, property prices and education and health care information.

Social media and a roadshow would support it.