Has Australia ever been under colonial rule?

Yes, Australia was under British colonial rule for over a century. Britain started colonising Australia in the late 18th century, with the establishment of the first penal colony in New South Wales in 1788. Over the next few decades, Britain established several more colonies in Australia, including Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. These colonies were governed by British governors and were largely under the control of the British government. Australia remained a British colony until the early 20th century, when it became a self-governing dominion within the British Empire. In 1942, the Statute of Westminster was passed, which gave Australia full independence from Britain.