The back-to-back Six Nations champions trailed 21-12 at halftime at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night, but scored 30 consecutive points after the break in a 42-26 win that got messy for the hosts in the final 20 minutes.
It followed the Wallabies' two-point loss to world No.3 Ireland a week ago, when they also led by 12 points, and marked Australia's first six-game losing streak in 10 years and ninth loss from their past 10 Tests.
Australia play Italy in Perth next Saturday in coach Joe Schmidt's final act before Les Kiss takes charge.
He'll enter with a 36.6 per cent winning percentage (11-19), needing a win to avoid finishing with the worst win-loss ratio among Wallabies coaches.
"We're so desperate to win," Schmidt said.
"When you stack enough moments ... to lead at halftime, it's a little bit soul destroying.
"The wash-up? We just know we need to get a win next week. It's as simple as that."
The game swung when Australia had drilled a penalty kick into the French corner, only for play to be brought back for a Max Jorgensen tip tackle.
French skipper Maxime Lucu happily slotted a penalty which was followed by three tries in seven minutes to create a 34-21 lead and set up their first win in the city since 1972.
"There were a couple of really big turning points ... that got them back into the game," Schmidt said.
"And our kicking game wasn't as accurate as it needed to be."
Fraser McReight, part of an inspired Wallabies back row, scored twice and saved another try in a brilliant first half, while fullback Tom Wright twice kicked 50-22s to give his side momentum.
The hosts pounced with two tries as former Brisbane club rugby junior Emmanuel Meafou, who scored the game's first five-pointer, was serving 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high shot.
Up 21-12, Australia showed pluck to turn around several French raids to begin the second half.
But when Jorgensen was penalised and captain Maxime Lucu slotted a penalty the floodgates opened.
Wright was yellow-carded for a professional foul, before Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang scored his second.
France crossed twice more with Wright off the field to effectively ice the game with almost 20 minutes still to play.
Debutant flyhalf Declan Meredith and halfback Ryan Lonergan were replaced just before the hour mark, but Jock Campbell - in an unfamiliar first-receiver role - and Tate McDermott failed to fire in a clunky conclusion.
Jeremy Williams ended the French run of points with a consolation try with four minutes remaining.
Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa was the Wallabies' first try-scorer, after replacing concussed No.2 Josh Nasser in just the third minute.
Captain Harry Wilson was filthy with his side's second-half performance and inability to steady once France had their tail up.
"Once we got the yellow they made us pay," he said.
"I'm still trying to put it (the performance) together in my head.
"(There were) good patches, but rugby's dependent on the result and we need to be winning.
"France won the Six Nations ... they're a bloody good team, but we need to winning Test matches for our country, that's what we're here to do."
Bolter Meredith was propelled from third-string to starter after Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson both succumbed to calf injuries.
Gordon won't play in Perth, while Donaldson will travel and attempt to prove his fitness, but it's likely Schmidt will call for a specialist No.10 as reinforcement.
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