Heaps of icy poles

I recently mentioned the influx of Asian students in Melbourne to a friend in England, my exact words being 'yeah, there are heaps of Asians in Melbourne now'. I got a distinctly blank look in response. Apparently 'heaps'is not something the Brits say, and neither for that matter is 'icy pole', which prompted childish sniggering every time the words passed my lips.