Updating the topic of pies due to popular demand :

Locally, there are lots of pies but few are gourmet; they are the local equivalent of a hot dog - warming and great in winter, but fairly rubbish as a food.

However on the restaurant and specialist bakery side, there are plenty of bakers who are trying to make gourmet versions.

If anyone was considering coming and havng a pie in Sydney or Melbourne, I'd recommend that you search for the award winning makers, as well as places which are famous for their history, more than for the product. Still worth trying, too. ^

Firstly, google the smh.com.au / theage.com.au twins' Good Living magaine insert for recent stories of winning pies.

In Sydney, try Harry's Cafe de Wheels, a 1940s pie stand, for its history & location at Woolloomoolloo, just east of the Botanical Gardens in Sydney.

Most pies are machine-made, manufactured products with the lowest-cost filling.

Google 'winner best meat pies bakery' or similar terms and you might get some names of bakeries with award winning pies:
www.greataussiepiecomp.com.au

For manufactured, generally-available ones, Mrs Macs are amongst the nicest ordinary pies and are from WA, IMO.

From a quick search:
Mick's Bakehouse overall winner at the Gourmet Pie Competition
Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition Celebrates 20th Anniversary
AU/NZ Meat Pie [wikipedia]
Beefys
John_Ross winner best meat pie
ACA NineMSN blog on pies

Best to ask this question about specifics in the AU/NZ travel destinations forum.

I still prefer to eat steak and Guinness pies in Ireland. ^