The Little Province
Watchman Island, known in the 1850s as 'Sentinel Rock,' is one of Sirocco's oldest claims, having been part of the original set of four provinces when the nation was founded in 2010. Originally part of a much larger province combining all of the country's former claims in Auckland, Watchman Island was split off into its own dependency in 2011. After nearly three years as a dependency, Watchman Island was elevated to provincial status on 5 February 2014, partly to acknowledge the island's long history under the Siroccan flag, and partly to avoid there being 13 provinces at the time.
A constant presence in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, Watchman Island is often used as a point of reference for those passing over the nearby Auckland Harbour Bridge. Watchman Island was one of the closest parts of Sirocco to the epicentre of the twin earthquakes that struck Auckland on St. Patrick's Day in 2013. The quakes were only small and caused no damage, but they left an impression on the minds of those resident in the nearby (former) province of Hobson. |
Watchman Island's flag represents the land and water, as well as the island itself (big star) surrounded by the city of Auckland (small stars).
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