Renw E3 now or wait until expiration?

I’m on an E3, my I94 is valid until March 2018. I have a trip to Australia in August. Am I better off renewing there, or waiting until closer to March and going to Canada or something?

Is there any advantage to doing it in my home country Australia, or is the process the same at any consulate outside the US? Once I renew, does it add two years after my March expiration date, meaning it would be valid until March 2020? Or would my renewal in August restart the visa, therefore meaning the renewal would be valid until August 2019?

Thanks for your help!