Constantia (Australis)
Constantia | |
|---|---|
Territory of the Unified Royal States of Australis | |
 Image of Constantia Island, the location of North Constantia. | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Etymology: Latin: Constant | |
| Country |  Australis |
| Annexed from Australia | 15 October 2020 |
| South Constantia ceded to Naveria | 29 October 2020 |
| South Constantia returned to Australisian control | 15 July 2021 |
| Government | |
| • Grand Duke of Australis | Daniel I |
| • Prime Minister of Australis | Tucker Gladden |
| Elevation | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+8:00 (Australisian Central Time) |
Constantia is a territory of the Unified Royal States of Australis. It is composed of a small island situated 700 metres from the shoreline of Hamelin Bay, Western Australia. Macronationally, the island is known as Hamelin Island. It was annexed entirely by Australis on 15 October 2020, and later the southern half of the island was ceded to the Commonwealth of Naveria as a gift, however it has since been returned to Australis.
There is currently one abandoned building on the island; an abandoned light station built in the 1930s.
Etymology
In Latin, the word Constantia means constant. The name was chosen by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australis, Brayden 'Lee' Eaves.
The Constantia Pact, a small micronational alliance, which Australis is a member of, was named after the Territory of Constantia.
History
Light Tower
During the late 1930s, a small light station was constructed on the island in order to facilitate navigation of Cape Leeuwin, the most south-westerly point on the Australian continent. It was also used to guide cargo ships into the Hamelin Bay, where they would berth at the Hamelin Bay jetty, constructed for the local timber industry.[1]
Annexation
During a surveying expedition near to Jarrahview, the ceremonial capital of Australis, the island was sighted and marked for annexation by the Grand Duke of Australis, who viewed the island as a perfect territory to claim, due to its size and proximity to the mainland. A colonisation expedition was scheduled to take place during December 2020, during which the Grand Duke would travel across to the island via boat and raise the Australissian flag, however this has not yet occured.[2]
Split
On 29 November, Casper von Naveria and Daniel Hamilton, representing the Commonwealth of Naveria and the Unified Royal States of Australis respectively, reached an agreement to split the island of Constantia between the two nations as a form of diplomacy. In the deal, Australis ceded the southern portion of the island to Naveria, naming it South Constantia, and Australis kept the northern half of the island, naming it North Constantia.
On 15 July 2021, Naveria dissolved, ceding South Constantia back to Australis.
See also
References
- ↑ "HAMELIN ISLAND LIGHT". The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 22 April 1937. p. 17. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ↑ "Operation Constantium". Australissian National Archives. Retrieved 20 November 2020.