Australia Under The Yoke: Could It Happen?

[BlackMage]

We Australians have this obsession with the notion of the 'yellow peril'. Namely, that sooner or later a power far more powerful, aggressive and militaristic than us will come sweeping across our wide brown land and make us all watch Steve Irwin. It's disturbing.

The two main candidates for 'yellow peril' invaders have been the Japanese (during World War II) and the Indonesians (since 1954). However, any attempts to get a sustained invasion from them have been...ahem...soemwhat suspect. (Trust me, I know)

So, here's my question: is it possible to get an invasion of part or all of Australia since 1788? Although most speculation centres on invasions since Federation, it would actually maybe be more likely in the nineteenth century; any number of candidates from the French to the Germans to even the Russians (just ask Fort Denison) could be contenders. But, of course, the choice is up to you.

Bonus points if it's actually successful, which would be rather extraordinary, really.

 

[Max Sinister]

Since 1788? I don't know... if the Chinese had ever attempted it, James Cook or even van Diemen would've found a continent full of Chinese, but at first the Chinese didn't start to explore the world, and second, even if they did and discovered Australia, they'd find the North or West coast first and wouldn't think it's worthy to colonize.

 

[BlackMage]

Since 1788? I don't know... if the Chinese had ever attempted it, James Cook or even van Diemen would've found a continent full of Chinese, but at first the Chinese didn't start to explore the world, and second, even if they did and discovered Australia, they'd find the North or West coast first and wouldn't think it's worthy to colonize.

Just an elaboration: it doesn't particularly need to be a colonisation, just an occupation of part or all of the continent.

 

[carlton_bach]

I should think that, in the first 20 or so years, if any European power had really wanted to take the British settlements, they could have. Granted, only for about as long as it would take the British fleet to react, but that reaction time might well measure in years, given the distances involved. It would take some good intelligence work keeping it secret, mind you, but even a small fleet out of Chile or the Philippines...

What would be the point, though?

 

[Archdevil]

Since 1788? I don't know... if the Chinese had ever attempted it, James Cook or even van Diemen would've found a continent full of Chinese, but at first the Chinese didn't start to explore the world, and second, even if they did and discovered Australia, they'd find the North or West coast first and wouldn't think it's worthy to colonize.

Van Diemen was not an explorer. He was the Governor-General of the VOC in the Dutch East Indies. Tasman, in his service, named Tasmania after him to earn some brownie points.

 

[MarkA]

We had an invasion scare every few years or so. The past candidates were - French (several times), Russian (a few times in both Imperial and Soviet guises), American (a couple of times), German (several times), Spainish, Portugese, Chinese (both pre and post communist), Japanese, Indonesian and even South American candidates although I do not think they were taken very seriously.

Nobody except the Americans post WWII had the capacity to occupy Australia. The idea of holding the cities to ransom by hostile fleets or some sort of pirate raid were the prevelent fears at the time. But the idea of an invasion fleet seeting out from somewhere and the RN just sitting idly by why they did it is absurd.

 

[David bar Elias]

We had an invasion scare every few years or so. The past candidates were - French (several times), Russian (a few times in both Imperial and Soviet guises), American (a couple of times), German (several times), Spainish, Portugese, Chinese (both pre and post communist), Japanese, Indonesian and even South American candidates although I do not think they were taken very seriously.

Nobody except the Americans post WWII had the capacity to occupy Australia. The idea of holding the cities to ransom by hostile fleets or some sort of pirate raid were the prevelent fears at the time. But the idea of an invasion fleet seeting out from somewhere and the RN just sitting idly by why they did it is absurd.

When were the American invasion scares?

 

[MarkA]

When were the American invasion scares?

November 30 1839 when an American squadron was discovered in Sydney Harbour having arrived undetected and unannounced. During the Civil War and several times when tensions between the US and Britain was evident (1812 for example) and when convicts were rescued/liberated by American whalers and trading vessels.