While we think of Australia as having a dominating federal government with powerful states overseeing wide swathes of land; there has been since the 1970s another movement, that of self-proclaimed independent states. Secessionist movements have not stopped with Western Australia's successful referendum to break-away either.
Self-Proclaimed
Stamps and tourism seem to be the main economic function of these micronations, microstates and self-proclaimed states.
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Hutt River Province
(WA). Established in 1970 by Prince Leonard, probably best known for its internal political squabbles in the 80s and 90s.
[
Wikipedia on Hutt River Province
]
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Bumbunga (SA). This province was founded in 1976 and contains a field which has a map of the British Isles constructed from strawberry plants. Also known for printing its own stamps much to Australia Post's annoyance.
[
Wikipedia on Bumbunga
]
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Atlantium
(NSW). This microstate was founded in 1981 in South Sydney. An apartment serves as its embassy to Australia.
[
Wikipedia on Atlantium
]
Statehood Movements
The
New States
website advocates the establishment of a New England state in northern NSW, a Capricornia state in Northern Queensland and a Northern Australia state which covers the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia.
There is a history of statehood activism in northern NSW and Queensland. A referendum on New England seceding from NSW was held in 1967 which failed. Its claims quite large boundaries, stretching from Newcastle to the Queensland border. Newcastle is becoming more and more integrated into the Sydney economy, shedding its industrialism for services. With the NSW freeway people actually commute from southern Newcastle to work in Sydney.
The Capricornia proposal covers central and northern Queensland with Charters Towers as its capital. Charters Towers was a hotbed of activism in the late 1800s, due in no small part to the fiery rhetoric and polemics of Frederick Vosper. Another republican which features heavily on SSR is John Dunmore-Lang. In his book in 1852 he advocated three Queensland provinces/states. There have been several attempts to have North Queensland secede Queensland, but none have made it through despite its popularity. One movement produced a very modern
North Queensland flag which incorporates the Australia pale design
.
