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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.
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