Non-French New Caledonia?

So how could any other power get control over New Caledonia in the South Pacific, and what would the effects of that be? I think the most likely is probably Britain, but could a British New Caledonia result in a similar society there? The island seems pretty unique amongst other tropical areas for having a very significant European minority (over 27% European as of last census).

Could New Caledonia end up an Australian province if under British rule or would it just stay an Australian territory like the Northern Territories? Or possibly attached to Queensland, since Queensland would be the destination for many of the natives once blackbirded?

Or could a power aside from Britain or France take control of New Caledonia (I'm not counting World War I or World War II-related transfers)? French settlement was relatively early, but it's pretty close to Vanuatu and New Guinea which were German-controlled OTL. Maybe a Spain more interested in the South Seas for some reason?

There seems to be many possibilities for an island not often discussed here.
 
The problem is that France took New Caledonia quite early on in the process, mid 19th century. I would suspect at that time it would only be the British or the French in contention as it is a bit early for the other Pacific players.
 
The problem is that France took New Caledonia quite early on in the process, mid 19th century. I would suspect at that time it would only be the British or the French in contention as it is a bit early for the other Pacific players.

True. But it is right next to Australia as well as a very good source of slaves for anyone else who might need it.

Is New Caledonia's history tied to Australia's assuming someone like the French never annexes the place? Could the Dutch or Spanish ever get involved there?
 
True. But it is right next to Australia as well as a very good source of slaves for anyone else who might need it.

Is New Caledonia's history tied to Australia's assuming someone like the French never annexes the place? Could the Dutch or Spanish ever get involved there?

Australia isn't an entity till 1900 or so though. I don't recall any of the states having much success with direct colonialism, but they did manage to force Britain's hand in places they were interested in (like Fiji).

I think it unlikely NC would be untouched till 1900 and if it as, what could change to make Australia the likely imperial power?
 
Australia isn't an entity till 1900 or so though. I don't recall any of the states having much success with direct colonialism, but they did manage to force Britain's hand in places they were interested in (like Fiji).

I think it unlikely NC would be untouched till 1900 and if it as, what could change to make Australia the likely imperial power?

I'm thinking of more Australia as a British outpost for colonialism in the region than Australia the unified nation of the 20th century with more of a say in how the British Empire worked in that region. And Queensland the colony definitely had a system that could take advantage of what New Caledonia had to offer (fresh bodies, possibly nickel at some point).

If for some reason no one interferes in New Caledonia until that late, Germany or Japan might be interested. It does have plenty of nickel, after all.
 
Australia isn't an entity till 1900 or so though. I don't recall any of the states having much success with direct colonialism, but they did manage to force Britain's hand in places they were interested in (like Fiji).

I think it unlikely NC would be untouched till 1900 and if it as, what could change to make Australia the likely imperial power?

papua new guinea was annexed and ruled by queensland as a colony from 1883 until 1975 though officially it was done on behalf of great-britain. Something similar could have occured.
 
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