Hutt River Province

Submitted: Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 17:46
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Hi all, I remember a few years ago the place in WA were going to succeed from Australia. Question? Did they do this and are they still a separate place within Australia. I have not heard of Hutt River for many years.
Damien
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Reply By: Member - DickyBeach - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:15

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:15
Seehttp://www.principality-hutt-river.com/

As I recall, farmer whats-his-name was fighting the government over wheat quotas and the result was his claim to secede from Australia.

By declaring himself a Prince, and swearing loyalty to the Monarch (Queen Elizabeth the last), it seems that any person who threatened him risked a charge of treason and no Public Servant would take that risk (or, more likely, had more important things to do) and so he got away with it.

A few years later a guy in NSW declared himself "King Ron of Warragamba" but that quickly failed. Perhaps two important differences were that (1) Prince Leonard swore allegiance to HM QE2 but King Ron didn't (I'm guessing) and (2) King Ron was landlocked but Hutt River is not (guessing again).

ANyway, an amusing cock of the snoot to Canberra.

Cheers,
DB
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Reply By: Dasherdes - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:22

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:22
I've had the pleasure of visiting Hutt River province and meeting Prince Leonard and his fair Princess. Even got to sit on the throne. (The real one) He may be very eccentric but he is no fool. It was a very enjoyable and enjoyable visit and whilst I didn't purchase a knighthood it would have been a fun thing to do,
I'd recommend anyone going near the place to make the detour and drop in.
AnswerID: 411439

Reply By: Member - John L (WA) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:27

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:27
Hutt River Province is still the domain of Prince Len Cazely - now a tourism station. Very pretty in wildflower season. No one won the 'war of the wheat quotas' - he still pays taxes but still makes money from tourists to his 'province'.
Think Princess Shirley (yes real name) died a couple of years ago - Len would be in his 80's & a Real character. Cheers Heather
AnswerID: 411440

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:50

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:50
I remember a few unkind souls around the Northampton area called him Prince Crazy but now he has a nice little earner from tourism. Who's crazy now??

Cheers Pop

PS I think it was the tax man that showed him the error of his ways.......lol
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Follow Up By: Member - Joe F (WA) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:38

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:38
G'day Everyone

Well I'll be bought undone ~ Prince Leonard of the "Hutt River Province".

I've not given the man or the place a thought since visiting the Principality back in the mid 1990's.

Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley were most gracious and genuinely nice people, my wife, two sons and I spent several hours in the "Principality" talking about life and times along with the battles with the Federal Government and of their ( Cazely's ) serious decision forcing the move to become a Principality or a "Successionist State".

The had their own currency and postage stamps ~ along with honorary titles of the Principality. Sadly this was all prior to the invention of digital imagery ~ so my memories will forever stay as colour slides.

Thanks Damien L. Your humble post has dredged up some long ago misplaced mememories.

Safe Easter everyone.
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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (WA) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 23:11

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 23:11
He had a Embassy in Perth. It was a hotel in Hay st, can remember going in there. You could get his stamps and other other item's there.
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Reply By: Member - Damien L (Cairns) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:56

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 18:56
Thanks for the replies people, I often wondered what happend to him. At the time I was all for him for trying. I remember he even had his own currency.
I don't remember the other bloke at Warragamba.
Damien
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Follow Up By: Member - Jeff P (SA) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:58

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:58
The Principality of Hutt River is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Secession on the 21st of April this year and has a full weekend of events planned for the 24th and 25th of April. See http://www.hutt-river-province.com/
If you visit the website you will see that Prince Leonard has been declared an overseas citizen by the ATO and appears at least to pay no tax to Australia. If you visit then you might even see me, as we are making the trip to join in the celebrations.
Cheers
Jeff
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Follow Up By: Busy Bee - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 21:24

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 21:24
I wasn't paying great attention to the commercials this afternoon but one of the current affairs programs must be doing a feature on Hutt River in the near future.
Keep an eye out for it.
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Follow Up By: john&thejayco - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 21:56

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 21:56
Your right Busy Bee, ACA ran the story on it tonight.anyone interested might be able to find out more on the story through nine msn/aca.Hope this helps.
Cheers.
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Saturday, Apr 03, 2010 at 02:43

Saturday, Apr 03, 2010 at 02:43
Yep Jeff P you're right with it being 40yrs, Hubby and I called in there when he first started up as a principality, was just setting things up, just checked the date on the tea towel that we picked up at the time and it is 21st April 1970. Looking at the tea towel it has a map of where it is situated and all. Arh the memories there. That trip we did up to Onslow in a HR Holden which we slept in, we packed all our stuff in the boot and headed North, those were the days. Good car that, took us lots of places.

Cheers

D


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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Saturday, Apr 03, 2010 at 02:47

Saturday, Apr 03, 2010 at 02:47
Just did a bit of checking and it was August 1970 that we called in to have a look at what he was on about. Was worth it, should call in again next time we go past to see the change.
Cheers
D


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Reply By: Member - bill j (VIC) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:13

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:13
There was a segment on ACA tonight don't know how old it was he recons he pays no taxes
AnswerID: 411446

Reply By: Member - George (WA) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:50

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:50
I was there last year and camped over night with the caravan. All the people there are nice enough. I don't think he makes much money out of tourism, the whole place looks very run down. BTW, princess Shirley, tongue in cheek, was still very much alive last August. Cheers
AnswerID: 411452

Reply By: Member - Wayne B (NSW) - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:56

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 19:56
In the 1979 Round Australia Rally. We called into Hut River and were greeted by Prince Lenard. We were all given Passports and other memorabilia. I must look in my old stuff and see if I can find some of it. I have never been back there but I often think of Prince Lenard and wonder if he is still going.

Cheers
Wayne B
AnswerID: 411455

Reply By: SNAKE No1 - Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 20:37

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 20:37
Hi,Channel 9 in QLD just did a bit on Hutt River Provence and both Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley were alive and well,the Prince also stated he pays no Aust tax. Cheers Snake.
AnswerID: 411458

Reply By: Maîneÿ . . .- Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 23:16

Friday, Apr 02, 2010 at 23:16
Check this link out

Prince Leonard video hereMaîneÿ . . .
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