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| Myself with Prince Ian. |
The Casleys were a farming family in Western Australia. They had consistently grown 13,000 acres of wheat each year. In 1969, after the Casleys had grown their crop the government brought in wheat quotas and said the Casleys could grow 100 of wheat that year. After various protests being rejected the Casleys lodged a claim for compensation against the Western Australian government. This was the largest claim ever issued against the government but was really designed to make them reconsider the wheat quota. The government's response however was to prepare legislation to resume much of the Casley's land. Leonard Casley raised the matter of the land resumption with the Western Australian governor pointing out that by law no more than 20% of his land could be resumed. The governor asked the government to stop proceedings for the resumption of the Casley's land. A month passed and no reply was forthcoming from the government.
Leonard Casley found that, under the constitution of Australia, if his livelihood and his lands were being taken away by the government he had the right to secede. A meeting was held in Government House where Casley's rights were confirmed. Sir Paul Hasluck, the Australian Governor general also confirmed that the government legally "could not interfere in the Secession". On the 21 April 1970 the territory was seceded from Australia and the Hutt River Province came into being.
Hutt River Province is now ruled over by Prince Leonard, though sadly he was in hospital when I visited. His wife, Princess Shirley had passed away earlier in the year. I was fortunate enough to spend a part of the day with one of his sons, Prince Ian. I was shown around the Post Office and Government building, the chapel and the shop/museum. He told me about episode which had happened between the Australian government and Hutt River Province. He showed me letters from the Australian taxation office which exempts Hutt River Province citizens from taxation in Australia as they are non-residents of Australia. He told me how they minted their own banknotes and stamps and of the lengths Australia Post had gone to to prevent Hutt River Province stamps from being used in Australia. I was also able to read in the guide book about how war had been declared between Hutt River Province and Australia in the Province's early days.
I can remember when the Hutt River Province came into existence, I was very young, but it was wonderful to come and visit. I did notice that there are very few signs on nearby roads pointing the way to the province. It seems the Australian government is still trying to hide away its mistakes.
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| The Post Office and Government Offices. |
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| Hutt River Province chapel |
