Aussie dopers: whence the "Province Of Hutt River"?

Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor · January 19, 2001, 12:47am

In the 1960’s, a farmer named Casley declared his farm the independent “Provence of Hutt River”, and named himself the Prince.

What’s happening with this “microstate”? Is it doing as well as Seatopia?

woolly · January 19, 2001, 1:21am

Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor

The laird of Hutt River Province seems to be doing OK. Last I heard (early 2000) he was spruiking his own Trade Bureau, selling personalised car licence plates etc.

http://www.wps.com.au/hutriver/history.htm

Part of the charm of his efforts are because Hutt River seceded from the State (Western Australia) that has always been threatening to secede from the Australian Commonwealth. Whenever sandgropers start getting emotional about independence, a quiet reminder that they really should be more original that just following in Hutt River’s lead usually puts a kink in the glucose tube.

Am not familiar with Seatopia, please provide more details!

samclem · January 19, 2001, 1:35am

Complainant called Brian O’Callaghan as a witness concerning the Hutt River Province. Mr. O’Callaghan stated that he is a diplomatic agent of the Australian government and that he was testifying on behalf of that government (Tr. 70-71). Mr. O’Callaghan testified that the so-called Hutt River Province “has no official status whatsoever in Australia”, but is actually “a private farming community” that he believed to be owned by a Mr. L. G. Casley, who is also known as “[t]he self-styled Prince Leonard of Hutt” (Tr. 71). Mr. O’Callaghan asserted that the Australian “government does not recognize any self-styled provinces or kingdoms that may be set up” (Tr. 71). Mr. O’Callaghan testified that under the Australian Constitution new political entities can only be created by accession of new states or the acquisition of new territories, that neither has been applied to the “Hutt River Province, so called”, and that secession is not recognized under the Australian Constitution (Tr. 73).

With respect to Australian coinage, Mr. O’Callaghan stated that “legal tender coins are only established under the Authority of the Act of 1965” and that such coins must be approved by the treasurer of the Australian government (Tr. 72). Mr. O’Callaghan further testified that “[n]one of the coins that are issued by, in the name of, or by the authority of the so-called Hutt River Province have legal tender status within Australia” (Tr. 72).

from Hutt River

We have enjoyed, in the coin biz, some interesting coin-like thingies over the last 25 years, or so. Many-a-government have sold their name to promoters who put out “legal tender” coins and sell them to collectors world wide. Usually it doesn’t reach the courts, but there is BIG money behind many of these “schemes.” Not the first, certainly not the last.

Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor · January 19, 2001, 1:11pm

An oofshore oil drilling platform or old WW2 antiaircraft platform, off the shore of Great Britain. Declared itself independent in the 70’s. Many threads on this site on this topic. Please refer to search engine.

Thanks for the link.