What if Britain's Far East fleet base were at Sydney?

What if Britain had chosen Sydney rather than Singapore as its main Far East naval base?

Australian financing could make Sydney viable despite its greater distance from operations. Its strongest advantage would be the permanent joint command needed to run British forces from an Australian base.

The scenario holds geography and international treaty restrictions constant. Australia would have to finance the docks and infrastructure to make Sydney attractive to British ministers concerned about expenditure. Britain would gain a Far East base farther from its likely operations, with corresponding demands on ship endurance and relief planning. Operating British forces from an Australian base would also require a permanent joint headquarters. Singapore with the same integrated command would remain the preferred geographical solution.