Principality of Marlborough
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 Flag |
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| Motto: none Musical Anthem: none |
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| Type of entity: | Micronation |
| Location: | Near Marlborough, Queensland |
| Area: | tba km² |
| Membership: | 2 |
| Date of foundation: | 1993 |
| Leadership: | Prince George (George Muirhead) |
| Purported organisational structure: | Absolute monarchy |
| Language: | English |
| Currency: | Australian Dollar |
The Principality of Marlborough was a short-lived micronation located near Marlborough, Australia.
It came into being in 1993 when farmer George Muirhead questioned the legality of the bills of exchange that the Commonwealth Bank of Australia had lent money against. On finding the bills of exchange were not in compliance with federal law, and were in fact created out of nothing, the Muirheads ceased their payments on their loan. Facing bankruptcy and the possibility of the repossession of his properties - Kierawonga and Indicus - by the Commonwealth Bank, Muirhead challenged the legality of the repossession procedures in the Queensland Supreme Court. He won the right to trial (verified by a Justice of the Peace) but on re-trial all positive proceedings for the previous trial were removed from the transcripts, and they were forced to fight for the right to trial again. This round was lost. Along with his wife and 30 supporters, he declared his property to be an independent principality where the bank and Federal government had no legal authority.
10 days after the proclamation of independence, officers of the Queensland Police entered the property and forcibly evicted the Muirheads and their 30 supporters. The Muirheads won widespread media attention from across the world, with the media initially portraying them as hardworking people being victimised by a cold, heartless corporation. Their support from this is still maintained by a number of right wing organizations, from which the Muirheads have disassociated themselves. The Muirheads adopted the Australian Aboriginal flag as the symbol of their "principality" during the "secession".
As of 2006, the Muirheads live quietly in Brisbane, Queensland, having abandoned all pretensions of being the sovereigns of the principality.
[edit] References
- "DIY Sovereignty and the Popular Right in Australia", by Judy Lattas, Macquarie University, March 2005.
- "Defiant Graziers Under Arrest", Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June, 1993.
- "Rebel graziers' bid to keep land ends in contempt charge", Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June, 1993.
- "Defiant graziers stay in jail", Sydney Morning Herald, 15 June, 1993.
- "A Principality without walls near Jericho", Sydney Morning Herald, 15 June, 1993.
- "The great conspiracy to enslave Australia", Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June, 1993.
