yellowfinger - perth mint “can I ask, how does one go about buying physical silver in Aust (Vic)? Is the Perth Mint the best option?”
Yes.
Buy unallocated unless you need the worries (and additional cost) of having a doorstop wrapped in brown paper laying about on the floor.
http://www.perthmint.com.au/gc/depository/depository_layout.asp?url=5
I thought someone named 'yellowfinger' would be buying uranium - <:)
SMM a good place to start