Hutt River Province

9th-10th September

Technically this was our international trip.  The Principality of Hutt River seceded from Australia in 1970 - some of you will remember the fight between Leonard Casley, a WA wheat farmer, and the Australian government of the time.  The very short story is the Casleys had been producing 13,000 acres of wheat annually for many years when regulations changed and they were advised they could only produce 100 acres.  They queried this, believing it to be an error in figures, but in doing so upset the government which then tried to 'resume' their land.  Leonard was an extremely intelligent man who then taught himself law and found the answer to keeping his farming rights lay in secession from Australia!  He's still very with it, very quick witted at 89.

Prince Leonard in his Post Office, with his son Prince Graeme

The laws stated he had to become a monarch and as such he's since been known as Prince Leonard. His wife of 66 years, Princess Shirley, died last year.  His (now adult) children are princes and duchesses.  The little museum is full of memorabilia, most of it awards and gifts from foreign dignitaries.  There's some amazing stuff in there.  We really found it interesting.  

This was a really interesting visit.  A couple of the framed notices
are tax assessment notices advising the Casleys that they cannot
pay tax as they are non-residents of Australia.

Phil sitting in the "Prince" chair in the chapel (Prince Phillip?)  The
"Princess" chair is on the other side.

Hutt River has its own government office and post office

The family invites campers so we spent a night here, even setting up
a picnic table for "happy hour" - celebrating Suzi's birthday (Deb's late sister)

So many kangaroo paws growing wild along the roadside