Notwithstanding its
primarily non-territorial nature, the Empire of Atlantium has
aspired - virtually from the day of its Foundation - to exercise its
Sovereign Authority over a modest rural geographical territory to
serve as its permanent global administrative capital, ceremonial
focal point and spiritual homeland.
That long-held
aspiration was realised on 12 Primus 10527 (12 January 2008)
with the formal gazettal of the Imperial Decree by which the
Province of Aurora
was established.
The Province of
Aurora (yellow outline) is located over three hundred kilometres
southwest of Sydney on the western side of the Great Dividing Range.
It is enclaved within the Australian state of New South Wales.
Location, Geography and Climate
The Province of Aurora
is located in the valley of the Lachlan River, approximately 310
kilometres southwest of Sydney, in the scenic, pastoral southwest
slopes region of the Australian state of New South Wales.
View along the Via
Concordia towards the southwestern extremity of the District of
Duggan. De Hollanda Dam is at right.
The Province is 0.76
square kilometres (0.3 square miles) in extent - nearly twice the
size of the Vatican City State, and about half the size of Monaco.
The fenced border with Australia is 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles) long. Aurora largely consists of hilly, fallow
grazing country with extensive native eucalypt and conifer
sclerophyl woodlands
and native grasslands. It enjoys an agreeable year-round
mid-latitude climate.
Flora and Fauna
A group of Eastern
Grey Kangaroos basking in the early morning sunlight near De
Hollanda Dam.
Resident native fauna is
abundant, and includes peregrine falcons, crimson rosellas,
cockatoos, kookaburras, magpies, goannas, wallabies, wallaroos,
eastern grey kangaroos, dingos, possums, echidnas and numerous other
mammal, marsupial, bird, amphibian and reptile species. The Empire’s
historic totemic animal - the world’s largest bird of prey - the
wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila Audax) - is also native to the Province,
and can be seen soaring on the thermal currents high above Aurora on
a daily basis.
Resident introduced
feral faunae include rabbits, foxes, cats and red deer. The
systematic, permanent eradication of these species from Aurora is
planned.
Administrative
Divisions
The Province consists of
three administrative divisions. The District of Hickey is the largest
of these, encompassing approximately half the Province's total area.
The District of Duggan occupies approximately a third of the
Province and is located along its southern extremity. These
Districts are gazetted as Perpetual Nature Conservancies. Concordia
Capital District is situated between the two, and constitutes the
only part of the Province in which permanent human occupancy and
development is permitted.
Flagstaff Hill, near
the eastern border of Hickey, is the highest elevation in Aurora.
The Province also
previously encompassed a 61 square metre exclave located in the
Sydney suburb of Potts Point. Known initially as the Imperium Proper
Territory, and later as the
Prefecture of Idalia, the territory was sold in January 2010 in
order to fund the development of Aurora proper.
Imperial
Capital
Concordia is the third
capital of Atlantium, a function it assumed from the former Imperium
Proper Territory on 12 Primus 10527, upon the
creation of Aurora.
Dawn silhouette,
Founders Square, central Concordia.
As the Empire’s
permanent capital, Concordia is progressively being developed as a modest
administrative and residential settlement along
environmentally-sustainable lines. Construction of facilities to
house the Imperial Senate, Government offices, Museum and Imperial
Throne Hall is currently in
planning. Short-stay visitor accommodation and conference and
recreational facilities are also envisaged. Development is estimated
to occur in stages over a two to three decade period.
Presently Concordia is
the site of a single-storey residential and administrative building
- known officially as the Domus Aurea (Golden House), the Foundation
Monument, the partly-completed Temple of Contemplation, several service structures
and a building which will serve as both General Post Office and
Imperial Library (the Bibliotecha Alexandrina Nova) when inaugurated
in late 10530 (2011).
Economic
Activity and Future Development
Historic economic
activity in and around Aurora has included forestry and gold mining
and processing operations, in addition to cropping and sheep and
cattle grazing. Archaeological remains of a 104th century (19th
century) gold processing facility at Battery Flat, in northwestern
Hickey, constitutes the oldest extant evidence of human occupation
in the province, and are to be formally conserved as an heritage
site.
Present-day economic
activity within Aurora's borders is limited to seasonal sheep and
cattle agistment. Future eco-tourism and other
environmentally-sensitive recreational development of the Province
is envisaged - including the establishment of a large artificial
lake and wetland zone to be created with the major expansion of an
existing dam in northwestern Hickey.
Renewable energy
sources, and natural water processing and recycling systems will be
installed to ensure the Province enjoys the highest levels of
practical autonomy from external suppliers, and in order to minimize
its carbon footprint.
An independent monthly
postal service will operate between Concordia and the Empire's
representative office in Marrickville, Sydney,
commencing in early 10531 (2012).
Fully-guided day-tours of Aurora ex-Sydney are available by prior
arrangement with the
Office of the Emperor
Requests for commercial overnight or short-stay visits will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.
Recent
Developments
To stay up-to-date with goings on at Aurora,
please visit the Empire of Atlantium's official Facebook Group,
where you can delve into an extensive photographic record of
significant developments.
For further information about the
Empire of Atlantium, contact us by email.