Was Australia important to the British empire?

Answer 1

Yes Canada was important to Britain because it provided more men for the world wars, also timber, grain and an outlet for British goods. It also gave Britain a toe-hold in North America after the loss of the 13 colonies.

Answer 2

At the time when the eastern half of the Australian continent was claimed by Great Britain, Australia was seen as strategically important to the British Empire for a number of reasons.

Colonising the continent would provide a convenient way to ease the problem of overcrowded prisons in England. Due to the American War of Independence, the former American colonies were no longer viable for England to send its excess prisoners, and New South Wales offered a location for establishing a new penal colony in a land which showed promise of eventually becoming self-supporting.

Expanding the British Empire into the South Pacific would also prevent the French, with whom England was at war, from gaining a foothold in the region. The location would allow Britain the port it needed in the East to promote trade with China and to extend its naval and commercial power.

The continent had Natural Resources which England wanted. As well, due to war, Britain needed to find an alternative supply of Flax and timber as her Baltic supply was under threat. It was believed that nearby Norfolk Island would provide this.