yuppieshrink: Why not call your Australian Travel Center and ask them if you can purchase Travelers checks with your credit card - fee free.
nako - but when you are going to San Francisco for some other reason, you might think about doing it....or if you are traveling to a different city. Sure, unless there is one "around the corner" it will have its limitations. Combined with another reason then there is no reason not to. Anyone living or working in a big city will, most likely, have several offices to choose from.