Interesting story to recap over Australia Day. One quibble: you say that the British were not *in possession* of the east coast of Australia if Phillip's fleet had not been there when LaPerouse arrived. Quite true. However, about 8 years earlier James Cook went ashore a small island (now called Possession Island) off the tip of Cape York and laid claim to the entire east coast of Australia in the name of His Britannic Majesty. Thus, Britain did have prior claim on the territory visited by LaPerouse in 1788 (even if LaPerouse had lived to return to Europe to lodge such a claim). This brings up a second point. Even if Phillip had not been in Botany Bay before LaPerouse, the fact that LaPerouse and all of his men disappeared at sea after leaving Australia means that the world would have no knowledge of his visit, and France would therefore have no claim to the east coast of Australia. This seems obvious to me.

It is very likely that Australia would've ended up a more civilized country if the French had gained possession of it.

The French have a long and semi-illustrious history, one that embraces art and literature more proudly than the British (especially the ones who were first sent here).

As a colony for criminals, Australia had a poor beginning and it hasn't got much better. Look at our current crop of politicians.

Of course, we have switched our allegiance from Britain to the U.S., a move that is a large step downwards. When we start killing Persians (Iranians) as part of the Coalition of the Killing you'll know we have reached rock bottom!

Interesting article.

If Australia had been colonised by the French we could have followed the mother country's example by ignoring all that boring WW2 business and let others fight the Axis countries.

La Marsellaise is marvellous, however, I hope we would have had our own national anthem by the 21st century.

JKUU,
Now there's thinking. cheers !

Frogs legs, Snails and Beaujolais, Yum!
Pie, Chips and Beer, Bleh!

Damn you frogs!

JKUU is very close to the mark, but omitted to mention that, according to British Law, the land that Cook claimed suddenly ceased to belong to the King of Spain (who had been the nominal sovereign since Balboa's claim in 1513 of all non-christian lands washed by the Pacific), and became the property of George III. (No documentary evidence whatever exists before 1788 as to any possible indigenous claims). This procedure, which was very effective, and on which the title of your house is based, is known as white man's magic. The status of the indigenous inhabitants changed from being nominal subjects of the King of Spain to being British Subjects, trespassers on Crown Land.

The suggestion that La Perouse could have founded a French Colony is silly, as his ship was equipped solely for exploration, and had neither settlers or supplies. The most interesting thing about La Perouse is that when organising his voyage he delegated selection of crew to various French institutions, including the Ecole Militaire in Paris. Their candidate went to his death with La Perouse. The unsuccessful candidate at the Ecole was Napoleon Bonaparte.