The History of the Hutt River Principality in Western Australia

When Leonard George Casley had a problem with the government of Western Australia, he did what a lot of people wish they could do. He started his own country and declared himself its monarch. Since 1970, His Royal Highness Prince Leondard I has presided over one of the most interesting “countries” in the world. This “micronation” called The Hutt River Principality may not be officially recognized by Australia or any other country, but many Australians have heard of it and thousands visit it every year.

For several years during the 1960s, Casley was engaged in a battle with the Australian government over wheat quotas. As the owner of a large independent wheat farm about 300 miles north of Perth, Casley believed that his farm would cease to be commercially viable if he was forced to reduce production in accordance with the quotas. He petitioned the government for several years, but they refused to listen and eventually threatened to seize part of his farm. In response, Casley used the British Treason Act of 1495 as a legal basis to secede from the Commonwealth of Australia. He founded the Hutt River Province on April 21, 1970. The name of the “sovereign state” was later changed to Hutt River Principality.

Casley’s family elected him the administrator of the new country and he adopted the title “His Royal Highness Prince Leonard of Hutt.” Prince Leonard I set up a constitutional monarchy which today “rules” over about 20 permanent residents who live in the only settlement, Nain. Leonard I continues to act as the ruler of the Hutt River Principality along with his wife, Her Serene Highness Princess Shirley. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Ian, has been named Leondard’s successor.

Although The Hutt River Principality is not the only micronation in the world or even the only micronation in Western Australia, it is perhaps the most famous. It reports to have 13,000 foreign “citizens” and has issued numerous stamps and coins. It even reports to have diplomatic representation in the United States and elsewhere, although no country in the world has officially acknowledged it. Unsurprisingly, tourism has become one of the Hutt River Principality’s most important industries.

As if the notion of the Hutt River Principality itself was not amusing enough, it reports to have a Navy despite the fact that it is landlocked. The government also maintains a very official looking website that gives a very detailed history of the Hutt River Principality along with information about its offices and traditions. Visit huttriver.net for more information.