Today, about 20% of Australians are descendants of convicts, including plenty of prominent citizens.
It is where many old Australians retire and where their ashes are scattered at life's end.
But Sydney is keen to redress the imbalance and celebrate the resilience of Indigenous Australians.
Breezy waterfront resorts and sleek live-aboard dive vessels host travelling scuba enthusiasts and sunburnt Australians on holiday.
Some 55% of Australians backed the status quo, while 45% voted to scrap the constitutional monarchy.
Smaller bases within the walls house contingents of Australians, U.S. Special Forces, and the Afghan Army.
It was the precisely the kind of gruff, plain speaking that appeals to Australians.
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Many Australians do not seem to appreciate that they live in an unusually successful country.
"We're up against the Australians and Canadians, its one of the most prestigious competitions, " he said.
"Like Australians around the nation I was appalled by events of last week, " she said.
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Most urban Australians, unlike their country cousins, expect the government to stand firm on water reform.
Australians tend to speak their mind, and what you see is what you get, he says.
He is known to Australians as the star of the great battler movie, The Castle.
"I think Wales are within a decent shout of beating the Australians next week, " Henry said.
Alas, like most wealthy drinkers, Australians are forsaking beer for wine and other unmanly tipples.
But Australians no longer seemed to be listening to his boasts about this and other achievements.
The Australians were down to 14 men in the second half, but they never gave up.
No, I think they will draw if anything, and the Australians will retain them.
We know for a fact that the Australians don't like to be under pressure.
Yet Australians often pay more in Australian dollars than Americans are charged in their currency.
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It's not hard to convince Australians that our attitude to the U.S. is reverential.
Australians have once again been reminded of the fragility of their hold on their dry continent.
Drawn by its wilderness, wines and food, Australians are visiting Tasmania in large numbers.
Andy Robinson is trying to get this Scottish team to play like the Australians.
Also run by a group of Australians, Blue serves delectable fusion fare in a funky setting.
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Several central banks, including the Australians, Belgians and Dutch, have already been selling gold.
Last year, new British citizens from Somalia outnumbered Australians, Canadians, Jamaicans and Americans put together.
Nor is there the kind of win-at-all-costs mentality that Brits often associate with Australians.
Bowler Nathan Bracken has been ruled out of Monday's match through injury for the Australians.
Indeed, the reverse is true: Asia's other markets are full of Australians these days.
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