But spared Crocodile Dundee III, so it all balances out.The world would be deprived of the cinematic masterpiece that is Crocodile Dundee.
But spared Crocodile Dundee III, so it all balances out.The world would be deprived of the cinematic masterpiece that is Crocodile Dundee.
Denmark and Sweden are too small and Australia won't be empty long enough for the Germans or Italians to colonise it.
French are the most likely result. In fact, they planned on making some colonies in Australia in the 1830s, but were beaten at the last minute by Britain.
I dunno, Jared made a pretty good mini/one-post-timeline which had the Swedish colonize Australia. It was a small colony and it would later get sold to Britain, but it seems plausible.
Austrian Australia.
A French Australia could be quite interesting. Are there any details known about the plans of the 1830s?
Many of these voyages were intended as purely scientific but they also had territorial ambitions driving them and it was only the lack of stability in France at the time (what with the whole Revolution and Napoleonic wars) which prevented renewed colonialisation. I think it is perfectly resonable to assume French success in an alternate timeline.
Hmm...In my New Albion timeline I've got James Cook being killed by natives in Alaska, causing the first British adventurer there to be Jack Byron, who (incurious as our TL) sails too far south and doesn't discover Australia. Instead the west is claimed by France to protect their holdings in India (Clive being absent in the Pacific North-West) and the Dutch claim the east coast to protect Batavia. Have to see if I can retcon Cadet Napoleon some way-have him eventually ending up as Gouverneur of Australie?In 1772 the French explorer Louis Aleno de Saint Alouarn claimed Western Australia for France standing on Dirk Harthog Island where earlier the Dutch had landed. OTL Saint Alouarn died before returning to France so no-one knew that France had a 'legal claim' to WA.
In 1788 just as the first colonisation fleet of the British was arriving in New South Wales, they were met with a French exploration party under Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse. This naturally peturbed the British. Quick fun fact, as a teenager Napoleon had applied to join La Pérouse's on this voyage. Napoleon way rejected but later La Pérouse's expedition vanished in the Indian Ocean on the way back to France - Napoleon could have been lost at sea at 18 if he'd been accepted, How's that for a POD?
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Otherwise there's a reasonable case for the Dutch to set up an outpost on the Western Coast of Australia. If for no other reason than the fact that Dutch ships kept crashing into the coast. Rather than risk foreign obstruction of Dutch trade between Indoneisa and the Cape of Good Hope the Dutch might resolve to control the coastline as a matter of course.
I hope you realise it wasn't captain Cook that discovered Australia, but a Dutch captain more than 150 years earlier (actualy it is likely the Portuguese knew of Australia before, but never mentioned it). Mind you it was Cook who exlored the south east of Australia first, so maybe you referenced that.Hmm...In my New Albion timeline I've got James Cook being killed by natives in Alaska, causing the first British adventurer there to be Jack Byron, who (incurious as our TL) sails too far south and doesn't discover Australia.
An Australia split between Portugal and Oman/Zanzibar would be a hell of a thing to see.Y'know, another possible colonizer could be the Omani, who had a small colonial empire in Africa at the time, if Britain doesn't go for Australia, they might, especially if the Portuguese are involved, as they kinda had a rivalry going there for awhile.
(I don't see a dormant tag so I'm assuming it's okay to post here)
Did the Omani even know about Australia? Or have ships capable to go there?Y'know, another possible colonizer could be the Omani, who had a small colonial empire in Africa at the time, if Britain doesn't go for Australia, they might, especially if the Portuguese are involved, as they kinda had a rivalry going there for awhile.
(I don't see a dormant tag so I'm assuming it's okay to post here)
Yes, yes it would, especially once Qaboos (yes that is his name) gets in (if his coup isn't butterflied away) Australia would end up heavily developed (heck the Oman might possibly be pre-disposed to Australia's landscape beforehand from living on the northeastern edges of the Rub' al Khali)An Australia split between Portugal and Oman/Zanzibar would be a hell of a thing to see.
Considering they managed to give the Portuguese a run for their money and straight up took land away from them, I'd say they'd have a fair chance, also considering the lessened distance (they only have to go around India to get a clear shot, wherearea's Britain, Portugal and other colonizers have to circumnavigate Africa in addition to India)Did the Omani even know about Australia? Or have ships capable to go there?
Or they might use it to exile those who dispute the Emperor's ability to possess the Mandate of Heaven.China is a runner up. There was no trade there in the usual sense, but aggressive mining enterprises might start some permanent settlements.
Germany and Italy were not united till 1871. There were several kingdoms. You don't go colonizing when your own country is not united.Maybe the Portuguese or the Spanish, although both are doubtful, especialy as late as the 18th century. Denmark and Sweden are too small and Australia won't be empty long enough for the Germans or Italians to colonise it. So yes, if not the English or Dutch, it is most likely the French, assuming a late 18th century POD.
Hm. Makes me wonder if a French Australia is a likely outcome of the French Revolution not happening.
Of course, no French Revolution means Britain isn't distracted as well.
fasquardon
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But a concentrated Dutch speaking country.