On this day 50 years ago, Western Australian farmer Leonard Casley, more commonly known as Prince Leonard, seceded from Australia and formed the Principality of Hutt River in a stoush with the Federal Government over wheat production quotas.

Key points: The Principality of Hutt River was created on April 21, 1970, when Leonard Casley seceded from Australia

The Principality of Hutt River was created on April 21, 1970, when Leonard Casley seceded from Australia The Principality and self-declared micronation closed its borders to tourists earlier this year to re-assess its future

The Principality and self-declared micronation closed its borders to tourists earlier this year to re-assess its future Mr Casley, known as Prince Leonard, died last year at the age of 93, leaving a $3 million debt with the ATO

The self-proclaimed sovereign went on to develop the micronation, based in WA's mid-west region about 100 kilometres north-east of Geraldton, into a well-known tourist attraction.

The Principality has welcomed countless tourists across its borders, where they could get their passport stamped at the post office, peruse the Principality memorabilia at its 'historical society', or even say a prayer at the non-denominational chapel.

Mr Casley died last year from lung cancer, leaving $3 million in debt to the Australian Taxation Office following a lengthy battle over tax that was taken to the Supreme Court.

Since then, the Principality of Hutt River closed its borders to tourists in January and Mr Casley's son Graeme, also known as Prince Graeme, said the family had been forced to look at different options to deal with the debt.

When asked by the ABC whether they would sell or divide the Hutt River property, Mr Casley said it was a possibility.

"That is one possibility, there are many possibilities, that is one possibility… sell up and move on," he said.

He said it was not until 14 months after his father's death that discussions began with the ATO.

"We had been in discussions with the Australian Government's solicitors for the ATO and things are looking positive and it looks like we have a path forward," he said.

"But with COVID-19 it just interrupted the way forward. We are in discussions, it is a positive at the moment, and we will move forward very positively."

Prince Graeme Casley after a court ruled the Hutt River Province had to pay more than $3 million in taxes. ( ABC News: Sebastian Neuweiler )

Government control prompted secession

The Principality of Hutt River was formed during a time of Federal Government-imposed wheat quotas.

Mr Casley said his father did what he did to save the family's livelihood.

A Royal Hutt River Postal Service post box, where you can send royal mail from the Principality. ( ABC News: Eliza Borrello )

"My father was basically put out of the wheat industry," he said.

"He was only allowed to deliver a miniscule [amount], only 1,600 bushels, which was nothing.

"It was the equivalent of 100 acres of wheat. He had 5,000 acres worth of wheat ready for harvest.

"So he complained, protested, and they just said "this is your lot" — and he did not feel that was quite fair.

"So he found ways to bring about the survival of the Casley farm.

"He declared the 21st of April, 1970, as the secession date where he was outside the laws and jurisdiction, and formed his own country for survival — to keep us going."

Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president Tony Seabrook said Leonard Casley was a larrikin, but many respected his fight.

Prince Leonard was 91 when he abdicated the throne of Hutt River to his son Graeme. ( Supplied )

"My memory of it, he was infuriated that any government could tell him what he could and could not do on his own farm," Mr Seabrook said.

"He found a loophole in the law that he believed allowed him to secede and he went through the process of actually seceding.

"He stuck his nose up, even his finger, at the Federal Government, and most people were not only amused by what happened but a little bit on his side."

Hutt River broke the mould of a difficult time

Mr Seabrook said the secession of Hutt River marked a difficult era for Western Australian farmers.

"The wheat industry was hugely regulated and a lot of younger farmers today would not understand," he said.

Prince Leonard, preparing to abdicate his throne, said it would be a mental relief to hand over to his son. ( ABC News: Eliza Borrello )

"It was okay heading to Perth in the Holden ute with a few bags of wheat you were taking down to Aunt Dorothy for her chooks.

"But if you actually got caught trading wheat off your property to a pig farmer or a dairy farmer, if you got caught doing any of these things which are so accepted today as being normal, this was a heavily punished crime."

He said, at the time, the quota made it very difficult to make farming viable.

"We were all trying to work out what our future would look like under these new wheat quotas — we had 182 tonnes, that was our wheat quota — we can whizz that off in under a day now.

"Lots of guys [today] would be up around 10,000-20,000 tonnes.

"We were absolutely controlled."

Graeme Casley said today the family would reflect on their father's battle.

"We are very grateful and [will] show a lot of gratitude to dad's foresight and fortitude to tackle the Western Australian and Australian Government to come to some sort of positive result," he said.