It's too bad about your location. I have a pre-64 Model 70 .375 H&H with a barrel shortened to 22" which I have up for sale. Your rifle would bring substantially more on the market. With the current regulations in effect it would probably be difficult to even swap barrels between us.

If you were in the States, I would advise you to sell your rifle, buy one with the barrel already shortened (like mine) and use the difference (around $1000 US) to buy a nice scope to go on it. I have no idea how well that scenario would play out in OZ.

Another alternative would be to look for either a .300 H&H or .375 H&H Model 70 with a shot out barrel, buy it and have it fitted with a new barrel to meet your specs and sell your present rifle for substantially more than you have invested in the new one.

Over here you find all kinds of strange modifications to Model 70's which destroy their collector value but not their usefulness. I once bought a .300 H&H which someone had chrome plated, and paid only $550 for it. A trip to a plating establichment removed the chrome and the rifle is now enjoying a new existance as a .416 Remington Magnum in a friend's gun safe.

I have another Super Grade Model 70 which someone Teflon coated. I am still trying to figure out how to rescue that rifle from its tar like finish.