I went to find an HX fuel pump around a year ago, I just walked into local (reputable) auto parts shop, got told there's now only generic item all holdens to VP- the price, ridiculous, however, fortunately, this was not accurate advice.

Both the earlier glass bowl fuel pumps with serviceable parts are still available from fuel miser, and I think rare spares (etc) but, you cant get the diaphragm parts for them anyway, so its replace the whole thing again if it goes next time anyway. The next series of fuel pumps (the flatter ones with the metal plate on top ) are also still avail from similar outlets. Much cheaper than the generic all Holdens to VP ones, although still more than they used to be. If you need a fuel pump, its worth googling for a bit - definitely could save half the price from an auto shop.
Mistakes, embarrassed nah don't be. Information is always a two way street. I wasn't aware that Fuel Miser were actually still doing the V8 pumps!

I was going to put a filter before my fuel pump hidden somewhere and my mechanic said not to put one before the pump.
Did your mechanic happen to give you a reason why not? It wont hurt anything and there is no truth to the Old Wive's Tale that it will either make the pump work harder or cause other issues. That is as long as you don't go fitting some huge EFI type metal body filter to it, just a small(er) reputable brand type either glass or plastic filter to suit the hose size. If you were looking to protect the carby better though, one after the pump will also pick up any debris the pump might chug into the system if it starts deteriorating, though in my opinion if you have to cut a steel line after the pump to fit it then it then 1. - you're always going to see it, even if you don't want to (read: if you're looking for that "original finish" engine bay), and 2. may cause issues with engine bay heat soak after shut down boiling the fuel away out of the lines, making it hard to start after a few minutes (in Oz we call this vapour lock, not sure what term you folks use over there for it).

Dave.