Camels were first bought to Australia in 1840. They
were bought from India, Afghanistan and the Middle
East. Experienced Afghan camel handlers came to
Australia to manage camel herds.
In the early days camels were a very important method
of transport for explorers. By 1900 there were 10,000
domestic camels in Australia. Most of these camels
were used for transporting supplies, wool, wheat,
railway and telegraph materials.
Many Aboriginal people worked with camels and some
even owned their own mobs. Some Arrernte people
still tell stories about travelling around country on
camels, catching possums and dingoes for the fur trade.
In the 1920s people started using cars and trains.
Many of the working camels were let go in arid bush
country. Camels are well-suited to living in this country.
They established free-ranging herds and bred up,
slowly at first. Now Australia is the only country in
the world with wild camels.
Where do camels come from?
Alice Springs Library website
Camels carrying railway sleepers
Middle East
Afghanistan
India
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