A very interesting topic / article!

I lived in Australia from birth to age 40 following which I resided, and taught English, in Asia for 10 years. I returned to Australia last year.

During the first month in my new (office) job here in Australia, 3 Australian colleagues separately asked what country I am from!!! Upon replying that I'm an Australia, each of the 3 responded, along the lines of, "You don't sound like an Australian".

When the opportunity arose, I asked the General Manager, who I know also worked in Asia for a time, whether she thought I had an odd accent. She replied, "No. Not really. You just speak clearly."