Afghan cameleers

I thought you might be interested in this unexpected little bit of Aussie history. Afghan camel drivers, arriving in the 1800s, were vital in the early exploration of inland Australia and in the establishment of service links. Their camels were able to cope with the harsh conditions of the Aussie interior. They were also among the first Muslims to settle in Australia.

One of the major projects involving Afghan cameleers was the development of the rail link between Port Augusta, Southern Australia, and Alice Springs. It became known as the Ghan railway (pictured right). The rail line was extended to Darwin in 2004. Cameleers played an equally important role in the development of the overland telegraph line between Adelaide and Darwin during 1870 and 1872, which eventually linked Australia to London via India.

Through these early exploits, a string of ‘Ghan’ towns were established along the railway. Many of these towns had at least one mosque, usually constructed from corrugated iron with a small minaret. However, the advent of motorised transport meant the end of an era for the cameleers. While some returned to their homelands, others settled in areas near Alice Springs and other parts of the Northern Territory. Many married local Indigenous people. Descendants of the Afghan cameleers have since played active roles in numerous Islamic communities in Australia.