Quilt fabric here in Australia ranges between $22 and $34 per metre. Unless you are in the Capital cities, quilt stores can be 100 km apart at least- and not always on the route you are taking. Making 100km detours to visit a quilt shop is NOT an option.
I met a woman from Australia about a year ago in a quilt shop in Urbana, Illinois. She said that fabric here is so much cheaper than fabric in Australia. Her friend that she was here visiting is letting her leave her clothing here and when she travels home her cases will be filled only with fabric. Next year when she comes back she's bringing empty(her clothes are already here) collapsible suitcases in a carry-on so that she can fill them with fabric. I thought it was an excellent idea.