Recipe wise- you cant go wrong with that PA kit, some Malt and some hops. If I did it again I would go without the Crystal Malt, or at least probably put about 100g in not 200g. I would say I will put down the following shortly:
1 Coopers PA Kit
1.5kg LME
100g Crystal
10g Amarillo @ 60 mins
10g Amarillo @ 30 mins
10g Amarillo @ 5 mins
15g Cascade, Dry Hopped
SaleAle US-56/05
Right now, my garage is sitting @ 15 degrees, so I will be putting this down very shortly....
As for a Coopers PA clone, I have found most people agreeing with key ingredients, so I am running with rwh's recipe, except using the actual PA tin - so I will do:
1.7kg Coopers Pale Ale Kit
1kg LDME
85g Dry Wheat Malt
40g Crystal
6g POR Hops, added at 60, 20, 5.
I will probably just use the yeast that came with the tin.. never had an issue with it, and I believe it is the same as the stuff they use for CPA anyway.
On HB shops, for the Sydney Metro brewer....
I have nothing around my local area being full of apartments and suit-wearing types...but tell ya what, I meant to come on here and say to people that I found a great HB shop recently. Previously, I have been going to Brewcraft in Rozelle (probably the closest to me, geographically) but the selection in there I find limited and the guy isnt the most friendly. 2 weeks ago, I found a great place online and followed it up with a visit, its in Enmore/Marrickville - the guys were really friendly, helpful and the selection is great - they stock the whole range from Coopers, Brewcraft, ESB, Muntons, Morgans, Blackrock... as well as good range of malts, hops and yeasts too... so I would definitely give them a crack. Paul & Ross are the guys names...
http://www.brewhaus.com.au. Also, I spent a bit with them and as a result I qualified to come along and see them do a partial mash demonstration, which I intend on going to. Precisely the sort of thing I was after in a HB shop.