Some 75 sq. km of the state of Western Australia form Australia’s oldest micronation. The Hutt River Principality has about 20 permanent residents, but thanks to the fascination exerted by micronations – not to mention the possibilities for propagation of and affiliation to such projects offered by present-day media – it counts an additional 13.000 passport holders worldwide.
The Hutt River Principality, about 500 km north of Perth, declared its independence on 21 april 1970. On that day, the eccentric wheat farmer Leonard George Casley became Prince Leonard I. This was the result of a long-standing dispute with the Australian government over wheat quotas, and of the Treason Act of 1495, a British law Casley felt allowed him to secede from the Commonwealth of Australia (and remain loyal to Queen Elizabeth II).
I don’t know if and how the Principality manages to evade Australian wheat regulations, but Prince Leonard must have made a handsome amount of money off the stamps and coins issued by his micronation – as yet unrecognised by Australia or any other country.
The future seems secure for the Hutt River Principality: the Australian government has accepted it as a ‘business enterprise’, one which generates a fair amount of tourism, and with Crown Prince Ian waiting in the wings, the succession is guaranteed.
This map was scanned from p. 27 of the ‘Micronations. The Lonely Planet Guide To Home-Made Nations’, one of the most hilarious travel-guides out there. More information on the Hutt River Principality on its own website - which indicates that the Principality, although landlocked, has a navy of its own.
Another micronation with colorful maps (and more to come) is Alphistia at http://www.alphistia.com.
:-)
Comment by Tony Skaggs — June 7, 2007 @
Their web site has a “Contact Us” button on the front page. lololz
Comment by mosler — June 8, 2007 @
How do I apply for citizenship?
Comment by AG — June 21, 2007 @
I’ve just replaced the map I scanned myself by one of much higher quality, kindly sent to me by Wayne Murphy, Cartography Administrator for Lonely Planet Publications - and the mapmaker who actually drew this map. Thank you, Mr Murphy!
Comment by strangemaps — July 7, 2007 @
Just a small correction to the content of your text. The link to the Principality “own site” in fact is to the Site of one of our
U.S.A. Representatives. The ONLY Site from the Principality itself is http://www.principality-hutt-river.com where you will find all the latest info regularly updated.
Cheers!
Sir Steve
Principality Webmaster by Royal Command, acting Minister of Electronic Communications.
Comment by Sir Steve — January 23, 2008 @
the principality is semilar to monaco in france and lichnichtien in swisserland.
the only difference is that australia backed by UK is not yet granting the full recognition in this principality.
GOD save the prince.
Comment by Dr motaz — July 21, 2008 @
i advice any one who would like to know more about it , visit the website ,,, and if you like apply for the citizenship their with a reason why would you like to apply for it.
i feel day will come and australia would face this truth that is present since 1970 that this provice is not in any way execpet the geography , part of the union of australia.
thank you
Comment by Dr motaz — July 21, 2008 @
i need to ask any one here ,,among the citizens of the hutt river,, do you use your hutt river passports to travel???
please advice your experience.
thanks
Comment by dr.motaz — August 20, 2008 @