In the last decades of the nineteenth century, many cameleers were brought to Australia from places such as Afghanistan, Kashmir, Persia, Baluchistan and the Punjab. The arrival of camels, together with these cameleers, helped greatly in exploring inland Australia, because horses were unsuited to the dry conditions. Camels were also used to carry supplies and mail to remote areas, and to develop the Trans-Australian Railway and the Overland Telegraph.

Despite coming from many countries, the cameleers were known as ‘Afghan’ cameleers. Although they spoke a variety of languages, many of them shared a faith in Islam. 

Image of a man wearing a keffiyeh (scarf used as a headdress). He is looking directly at the camera. Is is wearing a white button up shirt. He has a beard streaked with grey. The background is blurry but trees and a water tank are identifiable.

Smith, Robin (Robin Vaughan Francis), 1927-2022. (1966). Old Afghan camel drover Saidah Saidel, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 1966 [picture] / Robin V. F. Smith. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-146607205 

1. Share this image with your students and explain that it was taken in Alice Springs in 1966. What might Saidah Saidel, the man in the photograph, have been doing there? What stories might he tell? Have your students write three questions that they would like to ask him if they could.

2. Show your students the following four Australian photographs.

Image of a man sitting in the foreground. He is holding a box of strawberries, he is also surrounded by boxes of strawberries. A woman in a skirt and patterned top is approaching him carrying a box of strawberries. Behind them are several other people picking strawberries. They are outside in a field. Trees line the horizon.

Hurley, Frank, 1885-1962. (1910). [A prosperous migrant farmer and his helpers are gathering the strawberry crop for the nearby Brisbane market] [picture] : [Brisbane, Queensland] / [Frank Hurley]. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-158843458

Image of group of people eating and drinking in a coffee shop. A man behind the counter operates a gleaming coffee machine.

Carter, Jeff, 1928-2010. (1955). The expresso bar inside the Golden Valley Cafe, Myrtleford, 1955 [picture] / [Jeff Carter]. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147206488

Image of a man carrying a bag of onions over his shoulder. Behind him are the sheds of the Queen Victoria Markets, a large produce market. The man is wearing dark overalls and two cardigans

Carter, Jeff, 1928-2010. (1956). Chinese market gardener at the Queen Victoria Markets, Melbourne, 1956 [picture] / Jeff Carter. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-146792644

Image of a group of people stand around two men playing button accordions. Some people are wearing Polish traditional dress others are in shirts and black pants. They look to be mid-song. Everyone is smiling.

(1950). Polish National Dance Group [picture]. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-141277226

Working as a class or in small groups, ask students to consider the following questions for each photograph:

  • Where and when might the photograph have been taken?
  • Who are the people in the photograph?
  • What are they doing?
  • What might they be thinking about?
  • How might they be feeling?

Ask students to write a caption for each photograph expressing their own ideas about the story each image tells.

Share a few of the captions students have written and then discuss the actual captions for each photograph. Discuss the contributions that people of diverse backgrounds bring to communities.

3. As a class consider the diversity in your local community. Brainstorm some of the ways that people in your community differ from one another; for example, age, cultural heritage, skills and hobbies. Then brainstorm the things that people in your community share; for example, shops, weather and values.

Ask students to identify a person (or group) from your community whose story they would like to discover. Ask students to write four questions they would like to ask that would help them to learn more about the person’s background. Encourage students to ask the person the questions and to write down the responses. Publish a class collection of the stories to highlight some of the diversity in your community.

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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