WI more British colonies in Australia?

In OTL, the establishment of new colonies in Australia ceased around the mid-19th Century: New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania were each started individually and then South Australia, Victoria and Queensland were each carved out of New South Wales. There were numerous other proposals for new colonies but they were all suppressed or avoided through deal-making by the administrations of the existing colonies.

So, what if more were successful? Like Princeland being formed out of parts of VIC and SA, or Riverina or Illawarra or the New England region splitting from NSW, or Queensland being divided into two or three separate colonies, etc.
 
New England in particular could be interesting. Where would the capital be in a Pre-Federation establishment scenario?
 
Western Australia didn't want to federate initially. With more colonies, especially if they are allowed to develop a little more than OTL, could we potentially see three or four Australian Dominions? Or would it bind the colonies together more?
 
I could probably see Northern New South Wales splitting off/forming and more colonies in Queensland, probably say either at Townsville or Cairns.

Western Australia didn't want to federate initially. With more colonies, especially if they are allowed to develop a little more than OTL, could we potentially see three or four Australian Dominions? Or would it bind the colonies together more?
Unlikely to federate. The Queensland colonies would largely reject it and Western Australia probably would to.:D
 
There are a few forgotten colonies in Australia that are worth a mention:

Melville Island/ Port Wellington/Port Essington in the Northern Territory. Basicly the plan was that due to the sucess of Raffles in Singapore even more Asian trade could be tapped into by building another Singapore port along northern Australia in the 1820's. The first attempt at Melville Island failed due to the fact that it was off the Macassan (sp.) trade route, and Port Wellington failed shortly after. Port Essington, the third attempt actually suceeded for a while, but the poor harbour resulted in its abandonment.

Gladstones colony in Northern QLD: a colony centred around the town of Gladstone in northern Queensland that would be used to settle convicts who had served part of a sentence in Britain before being transported. The scheme never got off the ground due to a change in British government.

There is also the possibility of an earlier *Melbourne founded in 1803-ish, or a Port Philip District that is dependent on Tasmania rather then New South Wales, which almost happened.
 

Thande

Donor
Melville Island/ Port Wellington/Port Essington in the Northern Territory. Basicly the plan was that due to the sucess of Raffles in Singapore even more Asian trade could be tapped into by building another Singapore port along northern Australia in the 1820's. The first attempt at Melville Island failed due to the fact that it was off the Macassan (sp.) trade route, and Port Wellington failed shortly after. Port Essington, the third attempt actually suceeded for a while, but the poor harbour resulted in its abandonment.

Now that I find interesting. Thankee. Any idea for better sites they might have encountered?
 

Thande

Donor
I suppose the original New England didn't count as it was, after all, a *disloyal* colony...and besides thousands of miles away.

It's more that no-one back then really thought about the implications of colonies having the same names after globalisation. There's also a New Britain and a New Ireland quite close to the Australian New England, after all, not to mention at least three New Russias in various places.
 
Now that I find interesting. Thankee. Any idea for better sites they might have encountered?

Port Essington (Which was also known as Victoria) was the best as far as I can see as it was the closest to the already existing trade routes, but I'll have to check my sources later. The problem wasn't a good site, rather getting adequate labour and the tyranny of distance from Sydney. Solve the first one with Indian/Indonesian labour and Port Essington could be a success.
 
Here's another point: what about the effects on settlement and population distribution? As things stand in OTL, about 63% of Australia's population lives in the capital cities -- is it likely that the capitals of these new colonies will also increase in population? (With all which accompanies that)
 
Speaking of antipodean place names - we (NZ) recently went through a bit of a debate about how our two main islands should be named - current practice is to refer to them as "The North" or "The South" islands - but it turns out that we had assumed there were correct names set out in a statute somewhere, when in fact there isn't. It isn't really a big deal as the government will simply go with existing practice as well as giving both islands official Maori names.

I personally would prefer to go back to the old names, if just for confusion value - below is an extract from the Encyclopedia of NZ, 1966


When the islands of New Zealand were separated politically from the colony of New South Wales in 1840 and erected into a separate colony, the Royal Charter effecting this provided that “the principal Islands, heretofore known as, or commonly called, the ‘Northern Island’, the ‘Middle Island’, and ‘Stewart's Island’, shall henceforward be designated and known respectively as ‘New Ulster’, ‘New Munster’, and ‘New Leinster’”. These provincial divisions were at first of geographical significance only, and were not used as a basis for the government of the colony, then centralised in Auckland.
 

Thande

Donor
When the islands of New Zealand were separated politically from the colony of New South Wales in 1840 and erected into a separate colony, the Royal Charter effecting this provided that “the principal Islands, heretofore known as, or commonly called, the ‘Northern Island’, the ‘Middle Island’, and ‘Stewart's Island’, shall henceforward be designated and known respectively as ‘New Ulster’, ‘New Munster’, and ‘New Leinster’”. These provincial divisions were at first of geographical significance only, and were not used as a basis for the government of the colony, then centralised in Auckland.

Well that's confusing, especially since there's a New Ireland not that far away...

I also notice that poor old Connaught doesn't get a look in. That'll teach 'em to support the French Revolution...
 
Well that's confusing, especially since there's a New Ireland not that far away...

I also notice that poor old Connaught doesn't get a look in. That'll teach 'em to support the French Revolution...

It is reassuring to see that past treasons are preserved in forgotten naming choices across the other side of the world. Must be a side benefit of being the Official Surveyor
 
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