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Between 1870 and 1920, as many as 20,000 camels and up to 4000 men headed to Australia to work on expeditions and the building of infrastructure and mines in the country’s dry interior.
Many used the opportunity to ply their trades as hawkers, merchants and businessmen.
Coming mainly from what is now modern-day India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the majority shared the Islamic faith, although Sikhs and Hindus from British-administered India were also present.
The first camels to arrive directly to Western Australia came on ships SS Abergeldie and SS Yeoman, both coming from the port city of Karachi and arriving in Fremantle in September and October 1887. On board were 44 handlers and 299 camels.
Eager crowds flocked to Fremantle port to witness the animals being winched ashore and to gaze curiously at their handlers. These were men who came mainly from the north-west frontier provinces of British-administered India, Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan. A smaller number came from countries where Britain had strategic interests such as Egypt, Turkey (now Turkiye), Iran and Syria.
Many used the opportunity to ply their trades as hawkers, merchants and businessmen.
Coming mainly from what is now modern-day India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the majority shared the Islamic faith, although Sikhs and Hindus from British-administered India were also present.
The first camels to arrive directly to Western Australia came on ships SS Abergeldie and SS Yeoman, both coming from the port city of Karachi and arriving in Fremantle in September and October 1887. On board were 44 handlers and 299 camels.
Eager crowds flocked to Fremantle port to witness the animals being winched ashore and to gaze curiously at their handlers. These were men who came mainly from the north-west frontier provinces of British-administered India, Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan. A smaller number came from countries where Britain had strategic interests such as Egypt, Turkey (now Turkiye), Iran and Syria.
State Library of Western Australia