Between the 1860s and the 1920s around 2,000 cameleers, with over 20,000 camels, came to Australia from Afghanistan, Baluchistan and what is now Pakistan. In those days, before motor vehicles, camels were the ideal pack animal and were well equipped to cope with the harsh environment of the Australian Outback. Continue reading “Voyagers – A Tribute to Australia’s Cameleers”
The Adelaide Mosque, the first mosque in any Australian city and the oldest surviving mosque in Australia, opened in 1889.
Visitors to Central Australia may be aware of the role played by cameleers from Afghanistan, Baluchistan and Pakistan in the opening up of the Red Centre of Australia and, in particular, the construction of the 3,200kms Overland Telegraph Line between Port Augusta (outside Adelaide) and Darwin which was completed in 1872. Between the 1860s and the 1920s around 2,000 cameleers came to Australia. A fitting tribute to the role played by Afghan cameleers can be seen in nearby Whitmore Square. See my separate review on ‘Voyagers’. Continue reading “Adelaide Mosque”
The Rambling Wombat 