Australia in the Asia-Pacific region

Abstract

In 1872 the colonies of Australia were connected to the British imperial cable network and by the time of Federation England was 100 minutes away from Australia, and 80 minutes from China. Although these technological developments made the world smaller, the new nation communicated with Asia and the Pacific region through the British network. This imperial arrangement was symbolic of a general pattern that continued well into the twentieth century. Positioned within the British and then the US sphere, a full Australian engagement with the Asian region was slow. There were individuals who sought to build a specifically Australian relationship with the countries of Asia, especially in periods ..