It pre-empted a French colonisation.It began the civilisation of a continent with stone-ageinhabitants, a process which had begun thousands of years earlieron the other non-arctic continents.But each goveror had in hischarter the role of protecting the Aborigines.British rule also brought British protection of the expandingAustralian Colonies.British oversight ensured that the colonies observed Britishstandards of Law and Order.Trade with the Mother Country supported development and risingprosperity and living standards in the Colonies.Britain was open to self-government by the colonies, andeventually the country, when they could get their acts together anddemonstrate that they were capable of exercising responsibleself-government.