The coronavirus pandemic has hastened the downfall of one of Australia’s weirdest tourist attractions – the country’s micronations, which have their own royalty, currency, flags and passports.
Australia’s oldest micronation, the Principality of Hutt River, formed in 1970, is set to be dissolved as its “prince”, Graeme Casley, sells its land in Western Australia to pay a Dh7.9 million tax bill.
Claiming independence from Australia, more than a dozen such micronations have been set up in recent decades by self-appointed "princes" and "emperors". These rogue leaders have variously formed armies, declared war on Australia, established foreign offices and naturalised hundreds of citizens.
Most of these nations are tiny, such as the Principality of Wy in Sydney, which is confined to a single home. The Principality of Hutt River, by contrast, is enormous, larger in size than Macau. It eventually surrendered to Australia last week, partly because of the pandemic, which has reduced its income from farming and tourism.
The principality shut its borders to tourists on January 31, the same day Australia announced a ban on entry into the country to all foreign nationals travelling from China. Until then, tourists were warmly welcomed to Hutt River.
Here are three of Australia’s most interesting micronations.
The Principality of Hutt River
In 2004, when I first learnt of the Principality of Hutt River, I thought it was a hoax. I was a cautious first-year journalist fearful of being tricked into writing about a fantasy. Later that day, I found myself on the phone with its head of state, Prince Leonard Casley, as I interviewed him about the legal ambiguity that he claimed gave him independence from Australia.
Of course, micronations such as this are not really independent, unlike Vatican City, which has legal sovereignty. Prince Leonard, who died early last year, claimed to have seceded from Australia in 1970, creating a micronation on his sprawling property 500 kilometres north of Perth. A wheat farmer, he made this move partly in protest against what he saw as unfair federal wheat-production quotas.
What began as an act of rebellion turned into a lifestyle and, now, a legacy for this quirky Australian. Prince Leonard's bold move quickly earned him national and international news appearances. His fame grew due to bizarre incidents, like in 1977, when he declared war on Australia after becoming angered by the Australian Taxation Office's pursuit of the principality's unpaid levies.
In 1988, he even formed a defence force, with an army and navy trained to defend the Hutt River. This was intended to increase the legitimacy of the principality, along with the presence of its own government and overseas bureaus in 10 countries.
While tax debts remained an issue for this micronation, Prince Leonard otherwise avoided controversy after that brief declaration of war. Supported by his wife, Princess Shirley Casley, and seven children, he grew the principality from a farm into an offbeat tourist attraction that drew visitors from around the world.
Tourists paid the equivalent of Dh10 for entry visas and were often shown around the principality by members of the Casley royal family. Guests could visit its museum, teahouse, chapel and post office, spending the Hutt River dollars that they received in exchange for Australian currency.
Many bought souvenirs such as Hutt River passports, postal stamps and driver's licences. Those items are even more special now that the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to the demise of this wonderfully bizarre micronation.
The Principality of Wy
Wy? Why indeed. At first glance it is hard to fathom what would convince someone to turn their suburban home into a micronation such as the Principality of Wy, the frontiers of which extend only as far as the boundaries of a single Sydney property. It was again anger that fuelled this claimed secession, carried out by the Prince of Wy, Paul Delprat.
While the Principality of Wy does not grant tourist visas, Prince Delprat has been known to accept curious visitors into his home, which is adorned with royal regalia
Although he invented his princely alter-ego in 1960, Delprat did not create his micronation until 2004, in response to a dispute with Sydney's Mosman Council, a local government body in the salubrious suburb of the same name. When the council repeatedly denied his application to add a new driveway to his home, he started the principality.
Since then, Prince Delprat, 78, has taken to occasionally wearing a royal crown and gown. He is a well-known painter, whose work is displayed in the National Gallery of Australia. While the Principality of Wy does not grant tourist visas, Prince Delprat has been known to accept curious visitors into his home, which is adorned with royal regalia. However, like Hutt River, the Principality of Wy has closed its borders to all visitors amid the pandemic.
The Empire of Atlantium
The Empire of Atlantium makes Hutt River and Wy seem normal, by comparison. This self-declared independent state, which has land holdings in the Lachlan Valley, about 300km south-west of Sydney, rejects the term micronation. Its ruler, Emperor George II, argues on Atlantium's website that his empire is instead a "self-declared, primarily non-territorial sovereign entity and proto-world state that asserts immanent, parallel global sovereignty".
That sounds exactly like a micronation, but perhaps it's best not to disagree with an emperor. This man, George Francis Cruickshank, created Atlantium in 1981 along with two fellow Sydney residents "in response to a perceived rise in unwelcome political influences".
Almost four decades later, Atlantium claims to have a constitution, legislation, a judicial system, flags, a currency and diplomatic representation, as well as a population of about 1,200 citizens living in more than 100 countries. Atlantium uses Latin as its official language, is a secular state and employs a decimal calendar, as opposed to the common Gregorian version.
Tourists can arrange to visit Atlantium by contacting the office of Emperor George II. Just remember that, as he says rather sternly on his website, "there is nothing funny about Atlantium".
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
RESULT
Bayern Munich 5 Eintrracht Frankfurt 2
Bayern: Goretzka (17'), Müller (41'), Lewandowski (46'), Davies (61'), Hinteregger (74' og)
Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
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Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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