lost for the most part simply either go for sort by (closest first) hidden in the grey area just above the listings, or even better on the left bar just above the stores section there is a location selector where you can choose Australia only items.
Try it, then come back to me when you can do it excluding them all - you can't - due to most of them bullShitting about their location etc. "Shipping from Australia".
Then go on the ebay forums and they will tell you "thats how people want it". What they mean is thats how Ebay wants it and bend over and accept it.
Searching by state would be handy. No use me searching for an 500kg anvil or <insert other heavy item> in WA. BUt again thats "how people* want it"... *ebay marketing people.
IMWO, ebay was better when it was very very few business' on there.