Between the mid 1800s and the turn of the nineteenth century more than 3000 men from Afghanistan made the long and harrowing voyage out to Australia to take up work managing the camels shipped along with them. These men and their camel trains were the essential means of transport allowing for the earliest colonial exploration, pastoral and mining developments throughout Outback Australia.
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Prohibited by Australian Immigration regulations from bringing wives or children, most of these hardy pioneers put in a few years of hard work then returned to their homelands. A significant number, however, married Aboriginal or European wives, had large numbers of children and formed small settlements referred to as ‘Ghan towns’ in proximity to the routes of their camels trains.
Although largely unappreciated by Australian historians with a focus on UK heritage, the cultural richness and critical nation-building contributions of these families is recently becoming recognized.
Since their formation in the 1980s, the Society of Afghan descendants have enriched Australia’s cultural tapestry through holding public events, writing articles, participating in film, radio program and film.
The family history of my children notes their Great Grandfather, Darby Winder was the son of Pana (u), a Yingadda woman and an Afghan man.
Darby Winder was born at Hamelin Pool, near Shark Bay in West Australia probably in the 1890’s.
Camels were used for the delivery of Hamelin wool to the coast, do you have any knowledge of the teamsters being Afghans, or whether Hamelin Pool was on the hawking run of the west coast of WA, certainly Afghan cameleers were in Carnarvon at that time and beyond.
Like most families we have a cultural tapestry, rich in the building of the regions, Chinese grandparents working as doctors on the NT railways, Shark Bay fishermen and pearlers, establishing an Afghan connection would be enjoyed and celebrated.
Regards Chris Hall
My Name is David Reid
I am Descended from Thomas Creek who married Mary Eades in Gawler S.A. 1891. His father was John Creek a fellmonger in Gawler. Thomas was my mother’s grandfather, her mother was Elizabeth Down nee Creek lived in Adelaide. He died 1956.
My mother said that the Creeks were Afghan camel drivers.
i have no other info except a damaged photo of the family.
I would like to make contact with any one else descended from the Creek family.
I would also like to know John Creek’s father’s name and any details about him and the family.