Posted on
6 December 2024
On 29 November, the 'Sheiks, Fakes and Cameleers' exhibition was awarded a commendation at the 2024 Western Australian Heritage Awards. The Awards recognise outstanding commitment and contribution to heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, interpretation, tourism and promotion in Western Australia.
The Interpretation Category of the WA Heritage Awards is awarded to a project that improves and enriches a heritage experience by helping visitors to develop a strong sense of understanding and appreciation of a place. The project must relate to, or include, a heritage place, in this case, Perth Mosque which is State and local heritage listed.
During the awards night organised by the Heritage Council, our exhibition was awarded a commendation:
“The exhibition explored the history of cameleers in Western Australia and the founding of the Perth Mosque. Featuring artefacts, photos and live discussions, it celebrated the contributions of diverse communities to Western Australia’s development, while addressing historical discrimination. The event coincided with the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Perth Mosque.”
The exhibition wrapped up last month and a virtual tour of the exhibition is now available on the State Library’s website. You can also find a self-guided walking trail through Perth and Northbridge to follow in the footsteps of the cameleers of Western Australia.
Find our more about all the projects nominated at the 2024 Western Australian Heritage Awards.
Sheiks, Fakes & Cameleers
Online Exhibition
Discover the forgotten history of cameleers in Western Australia. Between 1870 and 1920, around 20,000 camels and 4,000 men travelled to Australia to help explore and develop the country's arid interior. Often referred to as "Afghan Cameleers", they came from incredibly diverse nationalities,. Despite their important role, they were subjected to discrimination and hostility.
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