Lived in the next shopping town to Dubbo about a 1-1.5 hours drive. Used to go there regularly at weekends. Dubbo has plenty of facilities, no worries there unless you're a real city kid.
These places can be very small towns in ways other than population and facilities. This isn't noticeable to the casual visitor, you have to live there to see it. It might amuse you or it might infuriate you but it won't go unnoticed.
I wouldn't hesitate to go back and live in one of these places but the OH would never consider it again, too close to Alabama.
There are of course advantages such as easier to make friends and acquintances. Being a pom is no problem and possibly even an advantage if your attitude is right.
Check out (google) "the Gordon Estate". Some is hysteria, some is not.
