Did the word make it to Australia? It must have, surely.

It's taken a while, McGrath, but the answer is both yes and no. I suspect most Australians are familiar with the word, and most of its British uses and meanings, from various TV shows that originated in the Old Dart, just as we're familiar with N.Am. uses of it from their TV shows that we've seen. But I don't recall it becoming part of our own vernacular, where, "bastard" (whose equivalence has been pointed out by yourself and others) still has pride of place.

Cheers, Rowan