They almost built the 'Australia Telescope' at
Mt. Arapiles in western Victoria not only due to the dark skies, but because the whole area has non-reflective soil, which apparently reduces reflectivity of starlight back into the sky!
There are not many places that have non-reflective soil.
Alas, they ended up building the scope near Canberra coz it was closer to the political centre of the country for visiting dignitaries to visit the scope. Unfair!!!