While selecting excursions for each port of call of our Australian cruise, we were excited to read that there was a principality in the very mainland of Australia, a landmark near the town of Geraldton, Australia. We had never heard of such a principality and the description in the virtual brochure sounded very amusing. We marked it as one of the highlights of our trip to look forward to.

The brochure read:
“Board your air-conditioned motor coach and travel through Geraldton on the approximately 1.5 hour drive to Hutt River. Travel to Australia’s smallest micro-nation – the sovereign Principality of Hutt River. In 1970, Leonard George Casley cited the 1495 Treason Act to secede from Australia and declare himself Prince Leonard I. Explore the principality, purchase Hutt River stamps and be sure to have your passport stamped! Hutt River Principality consists of some 18,000 acres of rolling farmland and wildflowers, larger than Monaco and about the size of Hong Kong (less the New Territories). Enjoy free time to explore the capital of Nain and visit the arcade housing the Memorabilia Department and Historical Society displays. Purchase unique coins and postage stamps from the Principality of Hutt River. Subject to his schedule as Head of State, HRH Prince Leonard I hosts a morning tea reception, with full table service and staff dressed in period costume.” (Excursion # GET-235) AU$229/adult

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On November 1, 2012, we arrived at Geraldton and were as excited as if we were going to a Monaco-like principality. We dressed appropriately, in case we were introduced to Hutt River Royalty.

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A 90-minute bus ride across desolate landscape…as our bus approached a few buildings we saw in the distance… my first thought was…what the first 23 seconds of this video plays:

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We arrived. In front of a small brick building, we saw an elderly man, wearing an average white shirt and black pants. It was the entrance to the post office.

The elderly postal clerk directed us inside. He went behind the counter to help us purchase postcards and stamps. As we were going through the postcards, there were photos of the royals. We soon realized that the postal clerk was HRH Prince Leonard himself, hustling to sell stamps and coins (20 cent coins for $8 each, stamps were few dollars each too).

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Our bus guide told us to visit the Historical Society display and Memorabilia display after we finished our business at the post office. Breakfast was waiting for us in the dining room, near the path to the Historical Society display and Memorabilia display.

We saw the Historical Society display and Memorabilia display while walking to yet another brick building. Let the photos speak for itself.

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The dining room looked like a remodeled garage with shabby rummage sale tables and chairs of all sizes and shapes. The tables were covered with cheap tablecloths, decorated with dime-store, fake flowers. What was on each table and the person who served tea were hardly “full table service and staff dressed in period costume”. On a corner table were simple and mediocre trays of mini-size sandwiches, cupcakes and scones. There also were dispensers of self-service water and juice to be poured in plastic cups.

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We were then directed to the church and told that Prince Leonard wanted to speak to us. On the church walls were a variety of Jesus’ paintings. For some reason, Jesus’ face in every picture captured our attention/curiosity. Prince Leonard arrived in the same attire he wore at the post office, he spoke to us for about five minutes. He spoke of how he became independent of Australian government and that of UK. He also mentioned that the paintings were painted by his son Prince X? and we could see his son’s resemblance in Jesus’ face. (What?) Then Prince gave us permission to take photos sitting on his throne, which was a wooden chair (seen in the photo). Also, we could hold his hand and take photos with him. There were a couple of over-exited individuals who did just that.

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To compensate for our disappointment at Hutt River, we looked forward to seeing “some 18,000 acres of rolling farmland and wildflowers”, somewhere on our way back! After all, it is spring in Australia.  We were informed that it was the dry season and there were no flowers in bloom at this time.

Our 40+ gullible bus mates were mainly from the USA, UK and Canada. Not one of the 1800 wise Australian ship mates took this excursion. We were had, to say the least.   :(

Of course, in hindsight, it is one of our souvenir-stories to share with friends and laugh about our $458 experience (if you call that), and how gullible we Americans are.

I also discovered there are other micro-nations in Australia, according to this article by AuraGem,  “Funny, Weird and Wacky “kingdoms” in Australia”. You must watch the video in the article!

I hope you had some chuckles reading, literally at my expense, for laughing out loud!

:) )))

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Here is a video I should have viewed before we signed up for the excursion.

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