As a fledgling nation throughout the 20th century and as one that remains relatively young and small today, Australia has historically seeked the friendship of the two great powers over this period: Britain and the United States. Perhaps there have been times that Australia has taken these historic and/ or current alliances for granted, or merely accepted them on face value.

So it is surely worth placing critical analysis on our past relationships with these great powers, for the purposes of future reference.

Britain, through initially sending convicts to Australia in 1788, will forever be the primary influence on the founding of modern Australia.

To these origins are viewed ingloriously, while to some they are viewed with great pride.

Nonetheless, convicts and 19th century settlers, who were overwhelmingly British, ensured that the character, culture and ethnicity of the empire’s far- flung southern colony, predominantly resembled the homeland.

Then in 1901, Australia federated and formed…