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The principality claimed to be an independent sovereign state founded on 21 April 1970. The prince of WA's only micro-nation, the Hutt River Principality, announced it will close its doors until further notice due to financial hardship. There are a number of buildings including a Chapel, Post Office, Government Offices and Tea Rooms with a pool. [31], In December 2019, citing declining revenue from agriculture as well as a drop in tourist numbers, the Principality issued a media release to announce that it would be closing its borders with effect from 31 January 2020. Its government granted visas and driver's licenses, issued passports and currency, produced its own stamps, flew its own flag and reportedly operated 13 foreign offices in 10 different countries, including the US and France. It was dissolved on 3 August 2020. And then there was the Royal Art Collection, made up of 300 pieces scattered through these buildings, as well a giant bust of Prince Leonard, carved from rock by a Canadian artist. The souvenir shop at the Principality of Hutt River in Western Australia. The Principality of Hutt River … "What he created here over the last 50 years is amazing, it's really a unique story that people around the world have read about, and it won't just be forgotten about now. While Prince Leonard originally decided to secede from Australia over his disagreement with farming regulations, he turned the principality into a unique tourist attraction, with visitors arriving to buy passports, currency and stamps. Following the death of his wife in 2013, Casley authorised a special commemorative coin to celebrate her life.[26]. Olivier Chouchana/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images. The Principality of Hutt River, often referred to by its former name, the Hutt River Province, was a micronation in Australia. Hutt River, a self-declared principality, issued its own passports and once even declared war on Australia. The Principality of Hutt River, often referred to by its former name, the Hutt River Province, was a micronation in Australia. [59] On 29 March 2005 the Hutt River Province International Business Company announced it would accept registrations of company trusts which have since been promoted worldwide by registered financial agents. Principality of Hutt River is sovereign and independent country for 38 years. [citation needed], In 1978, Prince Leonard appealed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia against a conviction for conducting a shop on his property without a permit. The chapel contains numerous paintings of early Galilee and surrounds. [63], Casley was married to Shirley (née Butler) until her death on 7 July 2013,[64] when the Principality went into a period of mourning, closing some of its services. However, the Act can be used to isolate them by requirement of visa’s. These were denominated from 10 Cents to 2 Dollars. When Prince Leonard died in February last year he left behind a US$2.15 million tax bill, which forced his son and successor, Prince Graeme Casley, to announce last week the principality would sell its land to pay the debt. The Principality introduced a set of low denomination banknotes in 1974. 2.Prince Leonard of Hutt River Province is a person exempted in the Australian Law from Taxation under the current guidelines. When Casley declared himself "Prince", the administration board clause lost effect and the Hutt River Principality became an absolute monarchy, with a legislation committee to draft new legislation. He replied, "only that Prince Leonard is an enigma. In 1995 Gale died and it was found that in addition to promoting Principality coins and stamps, he had registered "Hutt River Province" as the name of a Queensland company of which he was sole owner and from which no profits were forwarded to the Principality. The Governor did not assist. Principality coins were issued from 1976 to 2000, then from 2007 to 2018. He worked for a shipping company based in Perth, although he left school at 14, and described himself as a mathematician and physicist; he also claimed to have written articles for NASA. [7] No government or legal scholar has ever accepted this legal theory of Prince Leonard's. But the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with a giant tax bill, have forced the principality to announce it will finally surrender to Australia. [44], Despite this, the Principality continued to argue that it was an independent entity within the Australian legal system. Casley told CNN Travel he was devastated to dissolve the micronation. Mercer, Daniel "Hong Kong gives nod to Hutt River", Johnson Matthey Refining, Rochester, New York, "Micronation : The Principality of Hutt River | Our Naked Australia", "Hutt River Principality will close its doors 'until further notice' due to financial hardship", "Official Home Site of the Principality of Hutt River", "Prince Leonard of Hutt River Principality abdicates to son Graeme", "Australian micronation 'prince' abdicates after 46 years", "Hutt River Principality now ruled by Prince Graeme as Prince Leonard stands aside", "Hutt River micro-nation founder Prince Leonard dead aged 93", "Prince Leonard, who founded Hutt River Province after stoush with WA government, dies aged 93", "Principality of Hutt River to close its borders! The territory was located 517 km (354 mi) north of Perth, near the town of Northampton in the state of Western Australia. It further claimed that residents did not receive pensions, medical benefits, educational allowances, child endowments, or benefits normally paid to war veterans. The principality claimed to be an independent sovereign state, founded on 21 April 1970. Exports include wildflowers, agricultural produce, stamps and coins. This could be because elf numerous reasons, but, like Hutt River, it’s mainly because of tax. "His Royal Highness Prince Leonard I of Hutt" was the style used by Casley from the creation of the Principality until his death. [11][12], In December 2019 the principality announced that it would close its borders and cease its external government services as of 31 January 2020, until further notice. [37][45] The Australian government noted that Casley "has used the document in various countries in the past and even sent a copy of it to Senator Evans in 1993". When he learned the Australian government was pursuing the principality over unpaid taxes, he reportedly consulted his own government and, rather than pay, decided to declare war. Citizens of Principality do not pay taxes to Australia and they are non-resident in Australia (claimed by Australia). The Hutt River Dollar was pegged at a one-to-one ratio with the Australian Dollar. It was about 75.9 square kilometres (29.3 sq mi; 18,800 acres) in size. In February 2017, at the age of 91 and after ruling for 45 years, Casley abdicated the throne in favour of his youngest son,[8] Prince Graeme. In 2010, the Principality issued a $30 gold- and silver-plated brass coin to mark the 40th anniversary of independence. [14], Leonard Casley (28 August 1925 – 13 February 2019)[15] declared the principality an independent province in 1970 in response to a dispute with the government of Western Australia over what the Casley family considered draconian wheat production quotas. So how did an Independent Sovereign State come to exist in rural Western Australia? The Queen was replying to a letter from Prince Leonard congratulating her on her 90th birthday. Although the total number of coins minted is unknown, it is known that 10,000 $20 coins were minted in 1991 to mark the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. [citation needed], In 1997, the legislation committee presented a proposal for a constitution to Casley and his cabinet. [7][18][19] From this time on Casley asserted that the Principality had successfully seceded from Australia. This giant bust of Prince Leonard was carved from rock by a Canadian artist. "[This quote needs a citation] Again, there is no support for this theory. [26] All authorised Principality coins were minted by Canada's Lombardo Mint and the New Queensland Mint. It also provided for an administration board to govern the principality until a permanent form of government could be established. [citation needed], After 2 September 2004, Hutt River Province/Principality accepted company registrations. There was also a silver $30 coin and a gold $100 coin, struck only in proof. [56], In April 2016, the Principality received a letter from Queen Elizabeth II which communicated the Queen's good wishes on the anniversary of the founding of the Principality 46 years ago, on 21 April 1970. It seceded in the 1970's after a dispute over wheat quotas. Hutt River has no standing army, but a number of its citizens have been awarded military commissio… Casley pursued a number of occupations before purchasing a large wheat farm near the towns of Northampton and Geraldton in the 1960s. Honorary guardsmen attended Casley on formal occasions and, despite being completely landlocked, naval commissions were conferred on supporters of the principality. At least one company experienced in the registration of entities in traditional offshore jurisdictions (British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands etc.) In 1989, production was transferred to the Continental Coin Company (in California). These coins are known as "holey dollars". [58] The Principality had no standing army, but a number of its citizens were awarded military commissions. On Sept. 12, 2006, the word “Province” was formally dropped from the state’s title and it became the Principality of Hutt River (PHR). History. [citation needed], Two weeks later, Casley claimed the government introduced a bill into Parliament to "resume" his and the other families' lands under compulsory acquisition laws. [citation needed]. With a number of potential sons and daughters, the successor was nominated by Casley and approved by a crown committee. Exports included wildflowers, stamps and coins and agricultural produce which is also exported overseas. The Principality's owned land will be sold off to settle the tax dispute. It was dissolved on 3 August 2020. From 1984 to 1989, Johnson Matthey Refining, Rochester, New York, a manufacturer of precious metal products, manufactured limited numbers of commemorative coins for Mel Wacks, who had been appointed exclusive American distributor by Leonard Casley. This force included an army, a navy and a military college, which developed artillery manuals and training programs so impressive they were adopted by affiliates of the US Army, claims. Some commentary at the time had expected his older son, Ian, to be the successor. Micronations are entities that claim to be sovereign states but aren't legally considered independent, as opposed to microstates like Vatican City, which have internationally recognized sovereignty. Casley also claimed he made a successful court claim using the law of unjust enrichment to successfully seize government land surrounding his farm which he hoped would increase his wheat quota. Casley formed the Principality of Hutt River (which he originally called the “Hutt River Province”), a landlocked micronation consisting of his 75 square kilometers of land located about 500 km north of Perth. The "Lest We Forget" coin was reissued in 2009. Off the beaten path from Australia's wildlife preserves and pristine beaches is a little-known country that has quietly prospered for 43 years. Casley claimed that this constitutes legally binding recognition of the principality. [20][38][39][40][41] In 2017, however, Justice Le Miere of the Supreme Court of Western Australia ordered Leonard to pay more than A$2.7 million in unpaid taxes, and Arthur Casley to pay more than A$242,000 in unpaid taxes. 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