Hi Dave,
If you google NSW State Records and either do a keyname search or online record search you can find atleast two mentions of your John. If you purchased the original records the should have more information but to be honest no one can actually state what info they WILL contain, just what they MIGHT contain. You can read up on the NSW State Records site.

I think if you purchase the certificate via NSW BDM they only post them out but if you use a NSW Transcription Agent they will email and/or post.

Kellie