Scramble for Australia (Multi-Colonial Australia)

The Scramble for Australia, also known as the Race for Australia was a process of invasion, attack, occupation, and annexation of Australian territory by European powers during the Seven Years' War, between 1759 and 1763.

As a result of the heightened tension between European states in the last quarter of the 18th century, the partitioning of Australia may be seen as a way for the Europeans to eliminate the threat of a Europe-wide war over Australia. The last 59 years of the early 18th century saw transition from informal imperialism of control through military influence and economic dominance to that of direct rule. Attempts to mediate imperial competition failed to establish definitively the competing powers' claims.

Many Australian aboriginals, states, and rulers Fought to resist this wave of European aggression. However, the colonization of the Americas had provided the European armies with large armies, which Aboriginals armies found difficult to resist. Also, unlike their European counterparts, Australian rulers, states and people did not at first form a continental united front although within a few years, a Pan-Australian movement did emerge.