In the case of the PPL (R) you actually had a private pilots licence with an area restriction, in the case of the GFPT I believe you still have to be authorised by your instructor to fly off to the trg area, whilst I had my PPL (R) I used the opportunity to hire aircraft from various locations around Australia during the Bi-Centenary celebrations that year (1988), and take the family for rides around the airfield local areas after a check flight, not sure if you can do that with a GFPT. It was a great prelude to a full unrestricted licence IMHO.
