However, as the pro-independence yes movement continued its late surge into last night’s referendum, the 30-year-old from Linlithgow expects the historic vote to go down to the wire.

‘‘There’s a good quote that was going around:  ‘Let your choice be governed by hope rather than fear’,’’ Mr Ower said. 

 ‘‘That sort of encapsulates things for me.

‘‘It’s a bit of a gamble, Scotland going alone, but if I were there, I’d have voted yes.’’

Mr Ower, one of 2700 Scottish-born Tasmanian residents, said his pro-independence stance stemmed from a desire for his country to make decisions free of Westminster Parliament.

The four million-vote referendum is expected to be settled before midnight Australian time, with newspolls and betting agencies also predicting a tight count.

‘‘A lot of people think it’s about nationalism or hating the English – but for me it’s about making decisions that better reflect Scottish people.’’

In the opposing  Better Together camp is Launceston businessman John McKenna – an Edinburgh native who has lived in Tasmania since 1973.

‘‘I’d definitely vote no, there’s too much uncertainty with the yes vote,’’ Mr McKenna said.

‘‘We’d have to move to the European Union, have to change currency – look at Ireland, they went broke because of it.’’

Both Launceston-based Scotsmen agree that the ruling British government could have avoided such a close result had it offered more power to Scotland sooner.

‘‘It might have been a huge no vote,’’ Mr McKenna said.

‘‘But the English have left the run too late.

‘‘Now they’re panicking and throwing money at the cause.’’

Both men are tipping the country to remain part of the UK.

‘‘If I’m honest, I still think it’ll probably be a no result,’’ Mr Ower said.

‘‘Scotland has a long history of glorious failure: close but not quite there.

‘‘I think at least this whole thing has got the nation talking, which is good for democracy.’’