Micronations: Principality of Hutt River

Image Credit: Cabinetmagazine

Principality of Hutt River – Oldest & Influential Micronation

The Principality of Hutt River which was formerly known as Hutt River Province is Australia’s oldest and the most influential micronation which is located on a huge farming area, many hundred kilometres towards the north area of Perth. It is situated within Western Australia which is around 75 sq. km in size comprising of approx. 18,500 acres of flat or undulating farmland which is well covered in areas with a wealth of shrubs together with beautiful windflowers.

 Its economy depends on agriculture comprising of export of wildflowers together with tourism. It was founded by a farmer, Leonard George Casley on April 21, 1970, who considers himself now as Prince Leonard when he along with his associates proclaimed their secession from the state of Western Australia.

The Principality of Hutt River – PHR is an Independent Sovereign State which seceded from Australia and is compared in size to Hong Kong though the Principality is much larger in physical size than several other countries like the San Marion, Monaco, Nauru and Vatican to mention a few.

Hereditary/Constitutional/Democratic Monarchy

The Principality, a hereditary, constitutional as well as a democratic monarchy, has HRH Prince Leonard as the Sovereign and the Head of State where a Government is exercised under the Sovereignty of the Prince by a Minister of State, HRH Crown Prince – Prince Ian, is assisted by a Government having many Ministers, Vice Ministers as well as State Secretaries, that are essential in leading the country.

Prince Leonard is a supporter of Arts as well as Conservation and has named several parts of the Principality with names like Lake Beginning, Lake Serenity, Mount Secession and Wild Boar Gorge. Nain, the main town site has been developed with buildings, with provision to basic facilities for tourist visiting the Province annually, together with modest Government and Reception buildings and basic support for campers with small ablutions block, camper’s kitchen and small caravan parking place accompanied with Power.

Other facilities include Administration building with Government Office and Post Office, Tea Rooms/Function Centre, swimming pool, Inter-Denominational Chapel together with a small arcade housing the Memorabilia Dept. and Historical Society displays.

Good Active & Widespread Diplomatic Representation

Besides this a new Reception Office also functions with recent extension to the Tea Rooms/Function Centre to cater for additional space including a beautiful and comfortable outdoor undercover location. For the 2010 40th anniversary celebration weekend, a new camping as well as caravan park area was developed, creating an ability to cater to larger scale visits during the special events without much cramping for all to enjoy the peace and serenity offered by the visit in the Principality.

The local resident population is quite small and a good number of Overseas Citizenships are issued to people from other countries.Though it has no standing army, a number of the citizens were awarded military commissions and honorary guardsmen attend to the Prince on formal occasions.

Inspite of being entirely landlocked, it possesses a navy, a naval commission have been provided on supporters of the Province. The Principality had a good active and widespread diplomatic representation with most of the developed countries.