Teejay
Gone Fishin'
After the voyages of Abel Tasman (1642-44), the French decided to investigate OTL Tasmania some more as a suitable place to establish a colony. In this voyage, they not just find out more about Tasmania, however they explore the coast of OTL Southern Victoria.
Around 1660 the French establish a settlement, where OTL city of Melbourne is and name (lets say) Louisville after King Louis XIV. Also Australia is named New Britanny. I anticipate the settlement of New Britanny to along the lines roughly of that of Quebec (during the rule of the sovereign council)
The climate of Southern Victoria is similar to Northern France (expect with milder winters). Also it is much healthier than France is, so the population is going to grow at an extremely fast rate doubling every 25 years (even if immigration is minimal).
The economic development of New Britanny is boosted dramatically about a decade after the first settlement by the discovery of massive gold deposits only 100km or so to the Northwest. This region in OTL Victoria is called the Goldfields and was the site of a massive goldrush in the middle of the 19th century.
Thoughts on what happens next.
Around 1660 the French establish a settlement, where OTL city of Melbourne is and name (lets say) Louisville after King Louis XIV. Also Australia is named New Britanny. I anticipate the settlement of New Britanny to along the lines roughly of that of Quebec (during the rule of the sovereign council)
The climate of Southern Victoria is similar to Northern France (expect with milder winters). Also it is much healthier than France is, so the population is going to grow at an extremely fast rate doubling every 25 years (even if immigration is minimal).
The economic development of New Britanny is boosted dramatically about a decade after the first settlement by the discovery of massive gold deposits only 100km or so to the Northwest. This region in OTL Victoria is called the Goldfields and was the site of a massive goldrush in the middle of the 19th century.
Thoughts on what happens next.