This is a thought that has bothered me for some time,weather or not Australia or New Zealand could have come under control of the United States from their former British masters..and inspiration from another thread,if taking the right moment..the British could have bought or annexed Russian America(Alaska) from the Czar.
If we are to look at it from the Australia point of view,I sort of think that Western Australia could have joined the USA. They were hesitant to join the Federation of Australia,and even almost voted to break away soon after they joined.
I think most likely that New Zealand could have joined the USA,not that far from Hawaii..and United States ships were off the coast as soon as 1790. Perhaps the Americans could have instigated rebellion among the Maori,and a promise of fair representation in the United States.
Perhaps the most realistic view would be a British,or later on..Canadian Alaska. Think about it,that lone piece of USA all the way up north..it does seem a bit out of place. Perhaps the British could have seized it as a spoil of war,or just bought it before the Americans have.
If they did,Canada would be much richer..due to the oil reserves and resources there..added to that,I even remember a friend telling me once that there was a British claim to the northwestern part of Greenland..the portion that ran along British North America. With Denmark,or rather Norway's inability to defend the continent..could it have been taken into British..later Canadian hands?