The british originally established Australia as a_____colony.

_ N _ A _

The word you're looking for begins with a P and means like a jail.

^^^ im still not sure

PENAL

To figure out the missing word in the statement "The British originally established Australia as a _____ colony," let's break down the clues:

1. The British established Australia: This implies that the colony was founded by British settlers.
2. The colony was established as something: This suggests that the missing word describes the type of colony Australia was initially set up as.

Given these hints, one common word that fits the pattern and historical context is "penal." Therefore, the missing word is:

P E N A L