Leonard Casley

Leonard George Casley (28 August 1925 – 13 February 2019), better known as Prince Leonard, was the founder of the self-proclaimed micronation, the Principality of Hutt River, within the Australian state of Western Australia.[1] He governed Hutt River from 21 April 1970 until his abdication in February 2017, at a coronation ceremony that placed his son Prince Graeme on the throne.[2][3][4]

Leonard I
Prince of Hutt
Leonard Casley in 2010
Prince of the Hutt River Province
Reign21 April 1970 – 11 February 2017
PredecessorMonarchy established
SuccessorGraeme I
Born(1925-08-28)28 August 1925
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Died13 February 2019(2019-02-13) (aged 93)
Geraldton, Western Australia
Spouse
Shirley Butler
​
​
(m. 1947; wid. 2013)​
Issue7, including Graeme I

Having pursued a number of occupations, Casley eventually settled on farming, purchasing a large wheat farm near the towns of Northampton and Geraldton in the 1960s where he came to own 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi). In 1970, he declared independence and founded Hutt River Province in response to a dispute with the Government of Western Australia over what the Casley family considered draconian wheat production quotas. "His Royal Highness Prince Leonard I of Hutt" was the style used by Casley from the creation of the Principality until his death.

Early life

Prince Leonard was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia to George William Casley, who worked on the railways, and Enes (née Hunter).[5][6] Growing up alongside younger brother Mervyn, Casley was a high school dropout who left his education during his childhood when he was studying in sixth standard.[7][8][9]

Career

Casley worked for a shipping company based in Perth. Although he left school at fourteen he described himself as a mathematician and physicist; he also claimed to have written articles for NASA.[10]

Military service

Casley served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) between 1943 and 1946, including in Borneo.[5][11]

Hutt River Province
Bust of Leonard I

In 1969, established what he called the Hutt River Province in protest at quotas being placed on wheat. He declared independence on 21 April 1970.[12][13][14][15][16]

He created its own flag and tax system governed by laws which were enacted by his self-declared government consisting five ministers. Leonard sought to evade paying Australian taxes, and was found to owe $3 million in income tax in 2017.[17] As part of this tax case, he sought to justify his position on the basis of the pseudolegal Strawman theory.[18] Although Casley created stamps, micronation currency (Hutt River Dollar), visas, and passports for his sovereign state, the federal Government of Australia never officially recognised Hutt River as an official and independent nation, and later, it became a well-known tourist attraction in Australia.

Abdication

In January 2017, Prince Leonard announced that, after ruling for 45 years, he would be stepping down as prince, to be succeeded by his youngest son, Graeme. With a number of potential sons and daughters, the successor was nominated by Casley and approved by a crown committee. Some commentary at the time had expected his older son, Ian, to be the successor.[19][20]

In June 2017, Casley was ordered by the Supreme Court of Western Australia to pay $2.7 million unpaid tax.[21]

Personal life

Casley was married to Shirley (née Butler) until her death on 7 July 2013,[22] when the Principality went into a period of mourning, closing some of its services.[23][24] She was styled as "Her Royal Highness Princess Shirley of Hutt, Dame of the Rose of Sharon", and she played host to dignitaries and diplomatic representatives visiting the Principality each year,[25] as well as receiving television crews and magazine journalists. She was the patroness and chair of the board of directors of the Red Cross of Hutt, a parallel organisation to the International Red Cross.[26]

As an adherent of hermeticism, Casley privately published a number of research papers and books on the subject. He is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.[27][28]

Death

Casley died two years after abdicating the throne of Hutt River, on 13 February 2019, at the age of ninety-three.[4] His principality outlived him by 18 months and was dissolved on 3 August 2020.

References
  1. Siegel, Matt (17 May 2012). "Micronation Master: Prince Leonard of Hutt River". Bloomberg.
  2. Pearlman, Jonathan (13 February 2019). "Prince Leonard, founder of Australian micronation, dies at 93". The Telegraph.
  3. Mann, Francesca (13 February 2019). "Hutt River micro-nation founder Prince Leonard dead aged 93". Perth Now.
  4. Dunlop, Greg (20 February 2017). "Hutt River: The Australian farm with a 'royal' family". BBC News.
  5. Onishi, Norimitsu (1 February 2011). "Rewards for Rebellion: Tiny Nation and Crown for Life". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  6. "Family Notices". Western Argus. Vol. 32, no. 1646. Western Australia. 8 September 1925. p. 15. Retrieved 24 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Hutt River 'micronation' leaders lose Australian tax battle". BBC News. 16 June 2017.
  8. Pash, Chris (21 April 2016). "This 46-year-old Australian micronation has finally been recognised by Buckingham Palace". Business Insider Australia.
  9. https://www.myheritage.com/names/leonard_casley Leonard Casley - Historical records - MyHeritage. Retrieved 6 September 2020 – via MyHeritage.
  10. Brendan Hutchens (16 April 2003). "Prince Leonard". George Negus Tonight: people. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2007. took the title 'Prince', his wife became Princess Shirley, and together they turned their principality into a tourist destination.
  11. "World War Two Service - Veteran Details - Casley, Leonard George". Department of Veterans's Affairs. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  12. "For God, Queen and Hutt River". The Canberra Times. Vol. 45, no. 12, 793. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 April 1971. p. 10. Retrieved 24 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Trouble in the land of Prince Leonard". The Canberra Times. Vol. 46, no. 13, 003. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 December 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 24 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "The Mouse that Roared". Landline. 18 April 2010. ABC. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  15. "The Prince of Hutt River". Time. 16 June 1975. pp. 32–33.
  16. Macbeth, Alex (23 April 2010). "A man's Hutt is his castle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  17. McGowan, Michael (13 February 2019). "Prince Leonard, who seceded from Australia to form micro-nation Hutt River, dies aged 93". The Guardian.
  18. "WA's Hutt River 'royals' must pay $3 million tax bill after 'gobbledegook' defence fails". WA Today. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  19. Pash, Chris (31 January 2017). "Prince Leonard is handing over control of Australia's oldest micronation". businessinsider.com.au.
  20. Sarah Taillier (6 September 2015). "Hutt River Principality: Monarch of Australia's oldest micro-nation considers passing baton to heir". ABC News. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  21. Neuweiler, Sebastian; Menagh, Joanna (16 June 2017). "Australia's oldest micro-nation founders ordered to pay $3m tax bill". ABC News. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  22. "Hutt River's 'princess' Shirley Casley dies aged 85". theaustralian.com.au. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  23. Yolanda Zaw (10 July 2013). "Tributes for Hutt River matriarch". The West Australian. Au.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  24. "Hutt River principality princess dies peacefully". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 9 July 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  25. Rewards for Rebellion: Tiny Nation and Crown for Life The New York Times 1 February 2011
  26. HRH Princess Shirley Archived 9 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine Principality of Hutt River.com
  27. "The Mouse that Roared", ABC News, 18 April 2010
  28. "Exhibitions: Eternity – Separation". NMA Homepage. National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
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