Province of Bumbunga | |
|---|---|
| Micronation (unrecognized entity) | |
 A 1979 aerial photograph, facing north, of the Province of Bumbunga showing the gigantic strawberry patch shaped likeGreat Britain | |
| Location | Farm inBumbunga, South Australia |
| Area claimed | 0.04 km2 (0.015 sq mi) |
| Claimed by | Alec Brackstone |
| Dates claimed | 29 March 1976–c. 2000 |
TheProvince of Bumbunga (33°54′54″S138°13′44″E / 33.915°S 138.229°E /-33.915; 138.229 (Bumbunga Province)) was an Australian secessionistmicronation located on a farm atBumbunga nearSnowtown andLochiel,South Australia, from 1976 until approximately 2000. Its founder and only ruler was a Britishmonkey trainer,uranium prospector, and postmaster named Alec Brackstone.[1]
In November 1975 theAustralian Labor Party government ofPrime MinisterGough Whitlam wasdismissed under controversial circumstances byGovernor-GeneralJohn Kerr, the official governmental representative ofQueen Elizabeth II. Brackstone, an ardent British monarchist, became alarmed by what he saw as a drift away from the Australian system ofconstitutional monarchy toward outrightrepublicanism. To ensure that at least a portion of the Australian continent would always remain loyal to theBritish Crown, he declared his four-hectare property north ofAdelaide to be the independent Province of Bumbunga on 29 March 1976, and appointed himself its governor-general.[2][3][4][self-published source?]
Brackstone then set about attracting tourism by planting thousands ofstrawberry plants in the pattern of a huge scale model ofGreat Britain. He intended to conduct weddings on his property, during which soil from the appropriate Britishcounty would be sprinkled on the ground. Implementation was delayed when Australian customs authorities seized the soil Brackstone had imported from the UK, and the entire enterprise was scuttled when the strawberry fields perished during adrought.[citation needed]
In 1980 Bumbunga began issuingcinderella stamps portraying members of the British royal family (exceptSarah Ferguson, whom Brackstone disliked).[5] Later issues addressed anti-nuclear sentiments and other social causes while retaining the royal theme.[6] Though worthless as postage, they became popular withphilatelists and oddity collectors.[7] Fifteen series of 5000 copies each were eventually produced.[8][9]
In 1987 changes to Australian investment laws that reduced the attraction of philatelic investments led Brackstone to abandon his commercial operations, and Bumbunga slid into relative oblivion.[citation needed] In 1999 Brackstone was arrested and charged with possession of illegal firearms. His assertion of diplomatic immunity due to his status as Bumbunga's sovereign was unsuccessful[10][11] but, according to Brackstone, the charges were ultimately dropped nevertheless. In 2018 Brackstone was interviewed at his residence in Clare, South Australia, still claiming to be Governor of the province.[1]
[...] after more than 40 years as the Governor of Bumbunga, Alec Brackstone, is still stirring up trouble for the government. The 93-year-old, former paratrooper, circus trainer, croc shooter and uranium prospector, in no mood to abdicate his title, has been keeping a low profile for the past 20 years.
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