Afghan (Australia)
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This article is about camel drivers in Australian history. For Australians of Afghani origin, see Afghan Australian. For other uses, see Afghan.
The Afghans or Ghans were Muslim camel drivers who worked in outback Australia from the 1860s to the 1930s, not all of whom came from Afghanistan, but also from other Middle Eastern countries and India.
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, and a large population of Australian feral camels remains from this time.
The train known as The Ghan was so named in memory of the Afghans.
[edit] References
- Stevens, Christine [1989] (2003). Tin Mosques and Ghan Towns: A History of Afghan Camel Drivers in Australia. ISBN 0958176000.
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