Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-1317922-20131001224734/@comment-32656-20131003104239

Fair enough, though that doesn't really mean much.

Have to disagree on that one. And France was in no shape at the point to do that anyway. Brits could very easily shove them out, too, without even a war.

Alternative... Depending on the exact year, just have the Dutch or Portuguese establish a trading post in Northern Australia as an extension of their activities in the east Indies. Darwin region, probably. Would expand from there.