So, a very little known fact about Australia is that there is another sovereign state contained within its borders - the Principality of Hutt River (PHR). It is a principality because it is ruled by a prince - His Royal Highness Prince Leonard I (pictured below on the currency and as a statue). PHR is approximately 75 square km, and the local population is currently somewhere around 20 (the actual number is very elusive), plus something like 13000-20000 citizens living abroad. PHR seceded from Australia in the 1970's after a wheat quota was instated by the Australian government on families farming wheat in the region. The families stood to lose a lot of money (as the wheat had already been planted when they were informed of the quota), and they protested by secession. It is a great story, and you can find more information on PHR here: www.huttriver.net. Here are some pictures from Hutt River. The woman I am standing with in the Post Office is Princess Shirley herself. They even stamped my passport!
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