Does anyone know if you can purchase a DVD Recorder (with hard drive) that will work in both the UK and Australia. My understanding is that a model purchased in the UK will not receive channels when in Australia and vice-versa.

If such a model exists please could you advise which it is.

You won't have any problems with the video system as both Australia and the UK use PAL. So, the only parameter that you have to pay attention to is the Region Code (UK is R2, Australia is R4), i.e. ideal would be to purchase a Region free Recorder or one that can be easily made Region free (LG for instance, but not Pioneers).

I thought the issue was around what the receiver could pick-up.

A mate of mine took his TV across to Aus when he emigrted from the UK a few months ago. Said he couldn't find any TV channels to tune in. So I assumed the DVD Video Recorders would suffer the same problem.

I've got a Philips DVD R1000 MkII at the moment which I'm going to sell and get something more up-to-date. But didn't want to get something in the UK which was useless in Australia.

I got it. In this case, you better buy a new unit in AUS.
(Though the issue not finding any channels might have to do with analogue-digital aspect of broadsacting, receiving, i.e. DVD Recorder - analogue tuner, broadcast - digital).