It was the English who slaughtered and oppressed the indigenous population, as they did all over the world. It was called colonisation. Don't even get me started on the stolen generation and assimilation.
They also sent their own people over as prisoners, worked them to the bone to clear land and if they didn't oblige they were slapped in asylums.
I'm sure you know it all. It's what I find so perplexing about English people who look down their nose at Australia. The history, the horrible foundations, it's all yours. Own it.
It's not a history to be proud of. People who refer to Australia's heritage or claim to be patriotic are, frankly, idiots. Same as in America.
The Australia you see today though, in spite of how it's been built, it's something to feel less bricky about. It's an example of how humans of all religions, colours, creeds can live together happily. Again, this is in spite of the way it was founded.