Afghan (Australia)

This article is about early camel drivers in Australian history. For Australians of Afghan origin, see Afghan Australian. For other uses, see Afghan (disambiguation).

Grave of Afghan camel driver Zeriph Khan (1871-1903) at Bourke Cemetery, New South Wales Australia

The Afghans or Ghans were camel drivers who worked in outback Australia from the 1860s to the 1930s. While called Afghans, not all of them were from Afghanistan; some came from the northern regions of British India, areas that now constitute modern-day Pakistan. The Afghans played a great role in establishing the Muslim faith in Australia.

The first Afghan cameleers arrived in Melbourne in June 1860, when 8 men arrived with a shipment of 24 camels for the Burke and Wills expedition. Afghans without camels are reported to have reached Australia as early as 1838. Camels were the primary means of bulk transport in the outback (where the climate was too harsh for horses and other beasts of burden) prior to the widespread adoption of motor vehicles. A large population of Australian feral camels remains from this time. Even though the Afghans' help was greatly appreciated they also were badly treated with racism because of their religion, looks, and competition against traditional transport workers. The train from Adelaide to Darwin is known as The Ghan in memory of the Afghans.

The total number of Afgans to settle in Australia was 3000.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

Notable "Afghans" and people of Afghan descent:

• Hanifa Deen
• Dost Mahomet

See also

• Afghan Australian
• Pashtun diaspora

References

• Stevens, Christine (2003) [1989]. Tin Mosques and Ghan Towns: A History of Afghan Camel Drivers in Australia. ISBN 0-9581760-0-0. 

External links

• Bibliography on Camels and Cameleers at the Northern Territory Library.
• The Afghan Camelmen from South Australian History.
• Afghan Cameleers on ABC's George Negus Tonight.
• Pioneering Afghans from Bushmag.
• Afghan cameleers and the colonial era from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.