2020 Eureka Australia's Gold Rush

2020 Eureka Australia's Gold Rush - Camels of the Goldfields

2020 Mintmark and Privy Mark Four Coin Set
The discovery of gold in Australia transmuted colonies into thriving communities and old penal settlements into places of shining opportunity. As Australia's population and cities grew rapidly with hopeful prospectors from around the world, the wealth generated from gold launched a rush towards Federation. When gold was discovered in Western Australia, a reliable form of transport was needed for the remote desert goldfields. The solution was the hardy camel, and accompanied by the enterprising 'Afghan' cameleers, they arrived in Australia in their hundreds. Camels and cameleers were vital in sustaining miners and remote communities throughout the gold rush.

Camels and their cameleer handlers played crucial roles in the gold rush and the development of Western Australia’s gold mining industry. Camels were first introduced to WA in 1875, but it was after gold was discovered in WA that large numbers of cameleers travelled to the region. They were all grouped under the name ‘Afghans’ but they came from a range of places, particularly Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iran and the Turkish Empire. While their skills were very welcome, there were occasional racial and religious tensions between the mainly Muslim cameleers and the European miners. Nevertheless, settlers who were tired of the alcohol-fuelled violence common on the goldfields, welcomed the quiet and moderate habits of the cameleers. Many of the cameleers remained in Australia, and their descendants still live in the region.