If you've got carpentry skills then set up a 'boutique' carpentry business making reclaimed jarrah breadboards and picture frames. Sell them in Margaret river for an exorbitant price (the more you charge the more you will sell). Live in southwest WA.
serious, so many IT dudes competeing esp from india etc. not many chippys. what about townsville?
Finance IT, could be Sydney CBD, Or more likely North Sydney, or possibly Macquarie Ryde, so the northern suburbs would be your pick for places closer to work.
I live in Wollongong, and it took me 1hr 15min, to Rockdale on most days (city would be an extra 25-45min.) depends on traffic, so allow 2hrs by car. Train is a touch longer.
Look for places south of the city, for better wind.
More choices on North side of sydney for surfing beaches.
That is my 5cents worth
KR
I immediately thought Wollongong.
Another option is Picton surrounds if cheaper rent is the biggest concern as it's only 40min to the coast.
As kyteryder mentioned the main problem of the commute is once you get close to the CBD. None peakhour 5mins turns into peakhour +45min.
I once looked at a unit in manly that advertsed ocean views . You had to stand on the toliet & look out window & you could just see some water over the roof of the unit next door. 
But the 5 acreas above the tip has 180deg ocean views plus the wonderful aroma of kimbricky tip. They are recycling some old windsurfers down there to so you could always add to your kit. But realisticly sydeny traffic sucks . 45min to travel 1.7 km in mosman every morning acording to the telegraph. at those speeds im suprised its not a toll way everything else that slow is .
He's changed his mind, he realized he could get to Spain (great kiting, awesome riding, best food, fantastic culture) in less time than anywhere remotely interesting over here.
Work London > Commute to Ibiza/Marbella/Cartagena ($30 Ryan Air)
A lot of London jobs do flexi time> 3 days office, 2 days home... or 1 week office, 1 week home.
Dey has da internet 4 real in Europe init.
