Alternative History
Alternative History
Willemsburg
—  capital city  —
Istockphoto-1331687588-612x612
Willemsburg flag
Flag
WillemsburgCoa
Seal
Province Willemsburg flag Willemsburg
Nieuwland flag Niuewland
Area
 - capital city 814.2 km2 (314.4 sq mi)
Population
 - capital city 378,267
 - Density 616.5/km2 (238/sq mi)
 - Metro 503,409

Willemsburg is the capital city of New Holland. Founded following the Dutch conquest of Petros province (Nea Anatolia) as the seat of government for the new nation, it is New Holland's second largest inner city (third if the metro area is counted). The city is located at the northern tip of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range. As of January 2024, Willemsburg's estimated population was 524,117.

History[]

Pre colonial[]

The first peoples of the area include the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples. Other groups claiming a connection to the land include the Ngarigo (who also lived directly to the south) and the Ngambri-Guumaal. Neighbouring groups include the Wandandian to the east, the Walgulu also to the south, Gandangara people to the north and Wiradjuri to the north-west.

Archaeological evidence of settlement in the region includes inhabited rock shelters, rock paintings and engravings, burial places, camps and quarry sites as well as stone tools and arrangements. Artefacts suggests early human activity occurred at some point in the area 21,000 years previously.

Still today, Ngunnawal men into the present conduct ceremony on the banks of the river, Murrumbidgee River. They travel upstream as they receive their Totems and corresponding responsibilities for land management. 'Murrum' means 'Pathway' and Bidgee means 'Boss'.

Byzantine colonisation[]

The Byzantines arrived in the area in 1602, declaring the region to be part of the Nea Anatolia and the Petros Province. The area was mostly uninhabeted prior to the First Wave of Australian Wars. There were some villages formed from mid to late 17th century.