Austronesians reach Australia

The Austronesians were known for their excellent sailing. From Madagascar, to New Zealand, to Hawaii, to Easter island, they conquered a lot of land. This begs one question. If they were so good at sailing and colonizing, why were they somehow unable to sail to the land down under in our timeline? It is right next to Indonesia anyways. In TTL, make the austronesians and their languages reach Australia and the rest of New Guinea. What kind of butterflies will this timeline have? What would society and culture be like? How would European colonialism go?
 
A volcano or other natural disaster happens in Indonesia 65000 years ago, blocking the Australoids from sailing. Later, around 4000 years ago, the Austronesian expansion happens. Explorers from Indonesia reach New Guinea and Northren Australia, killing all the megafauna in the process. How plausible is this? Is this ASB?
 
The Austronesians did sail to Australia. That's how the dingo got there.

It's just that they didn't settle there. Unfamiliar land, not really suited for their crops (in the most likely contact areas).
 
The Austronesians did sail to Australia. That's how the dingo got there.

It's just that they didn't settle there. Unfamiliar land, not really suited for their crops (in the most likely contact areas).
In this timeline, they do settle in Australia. They also settle the rest of New Guinea.
 
The Austronesians did sail to Australia. That's how the dingo got there.

It's just that they didn't settle there. Unfamiliar land, not really suited for their crops (in the most likely contact areas).

Austronesians were responsible for bringing dingoes? I’ve never heard this before.

EDIT: I guess that’s old news. But, tropical Northern Australia would be more or less suited for Austronesian crops, wouldn’t it?
 
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But, tropical Northern Australia would be more or less suited for Austronesian crops, wouldn’t it?
Very much less. Most Australian soils, particularly in the north, are very old and poor in many key nutrients, particularly phosphorus. They are also too high in some metals, such as iron. Most of Cape York Peninsula (the closest contact point) is virtually unfarmable except with a host of fertiliser, even today. The rest of northern Australia isn't much better.

Any would-be Austronesian farmers would really struggle, and presumably in OTL if they ever tried it, they gave up pretty quickly.
 
Other than seeing a maritime mixed race caste of full-time sailors going up and down the coast trading I don't see a reason for an Austronesian settlement when they maximized their profits just visiting.
 
Very much less. Most Australian soils, particularly in the north, are very old and poor in many key nutrients, particularly phosphorus. They are also too high in some metals, such as iron. Most of Cape York Peninsula (the closest contact point) is virtually unfarmable except with a host of fertiliser, even today. The rest of northern Australia isn't much better.

Any would-be Austronesian farmers would really struggle, and presumably in OTL if they ever tried it, they gave up pretty quickly.

A variety of taro grows in the Kimberley and has been spread all over tropical Australia, so it shouldn't be entirely impossible to grow taro in certain parts. Bananas too.
 
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