Cameleers and hawkers
NAA: A1, 1903/5781, pp.10–12
The petition was signed by six camel drivers living in Perth. The Viceroy was the head of the British administration in India, and the petition was forwarded to the Australian Government for comment via the Australian Governor-General.
Petition on behalf of Indians and Afghans resident in Western Australia to Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, 19 January 1903
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NAA: A1, 1903/5781, pp.6–8
This letter responds to a question about the meaning of 'domicile' in use by the Australian authorities. Other documents in this file outline the more liberal definition that seemed to have been adopted in South Africa.
Letter from the Prime Minister to the Governor-General responding to the issues raised by Indians and Afghans in Western Australia, October 1903
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NAA: A1, 1910/3502, p.3
While the report recorded that there were no permanent mosques in NSW, it is noted under South Australia that there were two mosques in Broken Hill.
'Summary of replies from Customs authorities and Mr Pritchard...', report on the number of permanent mosques and 'Mohammedan priests' in Australia, Department of External Affairs, June 1910
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NAA: A1, 1910/3502, p.4
The numbers of camel drivers employed on the Western Australian goldfields is reflected in the number of mosques established in mining towns around the state.
Memorandum from the Acting Collector of Customs, Fremantle, to the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, 14 June 1910
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NAA: A1, 1910/3502, p.9
Customs officials were requested by the Department of External Affairs to 'report as soon as possible' on the numbers of 'Mohameddan priests' and mosques in their state.
Memorandum from Acting Collector of Customs, Sydney, to Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, 8 June 1910
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NAA: A1, 1910/3502, pp.7–8
AH Pritchard's knowledge of the Muslim community in Victoria was clearly recognised by the Department of External Affairs. He often made representations to them on behalf of local Muslims.
Letter from AH Pritchard to Atlee Hunt, Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, 11 June 1910
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NAA: A6, 1901/1910, p.10
This report was forwarded by the Premier of Western Australia to the Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, who passed it on to Hugh Mahon in answer to his question, on 20 August 1901.
Report by Fred Hare, Commissioner of Police, for the Under-Secretary, Premier's Department, Western Australia, 1 August 1901
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NAA: A6, 1901/1910, p.6
Hugh Mahon was a former journalist who held the seats of Coolgardie (1901–13) and Kalgoorlie (1913–17, 1919–20) until he made a speech attacking British policy in Ireland and became the first Federal member to be expelled from parliament.
Question by Hugh Mahon, Member for Coolgardie, to the Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, 28 June 1901
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NAA: A659, 1939/1/6201, p.31
This memo is in a file concerned with the issue of hawkers' licences to recently arrived aliens.
Memorandum by RM Retallack for the Inspector in Charge, Commonwealth Investigation Branch, Brisbane, reporting on the issue of hawkers' licences in Queensland, 1 March 1939
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NAA: A9, A1902/75/13, p.2
John Edwards was a solicitor acting on behalf of a number of Afghan camel drivers who were finding it difficult traveling between states. This seems to have been because of the continued operation of colonial immigration restriction legislation. The Attorney-General suggested that the matter be taken up in the courts of the state in question.
Letter from John R Edwards to Commonwealth Attorney-General, 14 October 1902
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NAA: B13, 1908/4495, p.13
A different licence was required for a hawker on foot. Acubar Deen submitted this licence with his application for a CEDT in 1908.
Licence for a hawker trading with pack or draught animals, 11 December 1906
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NAA: B13, 1908/4495, p.14
A different licence was required for a hawker using a horse and cart. Acubar Deen submitted this licence with his application for a CEDT in 1908.
Licence for a hawker trading on foot, issued to Acubar Deen, 10 September 1901
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NAA: B13, 1908/4495, p.8
Acubar Deen's application for a CEDT was supported by letters from the various wholesalers in Melbourne with whom he did business.
Certificate exempting Acubar Deen, an Indian hawker, from the Dictation Test upon his return to Australia, 3 March 1908
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NAA: B13, 1928/22985, p.10
A bond of £100 was required to guarantee that Lal Shah would leave Australia before the expiration of his Certificate of Exemption.
Bond form submitted by Solomon Murad Jaboor, merchant, to enable the entry to Australia of Saied Lal Shah, 2 July 1913
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NAA: B13, 1928/22985, p.11
Visiting religious leaders were required to obtain Certificates of Exemption to enter Australia.
Photograph of Saied Lal Shah, religious leader, submitted with an application for him to visit Muslims in Melbourne, c. 1913
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NAA: B13, 1928/22985, p.20
Australian officials were keen to ensure that Lal Shah was not breaching the terms of his certificate of exemption by taking paid work.
Report on the activities of Lal Shah from J Gleeson, Detective Inspector, to Collector of Customs, Melbourne, 1 September 1916 (attached to the bottom of a memorandum from Atlee Hunt, Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, to the Collector of Customs, 9 August 1916)
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NAA: B13, 1928/22985, p.29
SM Jaboor was a well-known Melbourne merchant and wholesaler, who provided the £100 bond that enabled Lal Shah to enter Australia.
Declaration by SM Jaboor attesting to the identity of Lal Shah, 1 September 1915
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NAA: B13, 1928/22985, p.53
AH Pritchard frequently represented the Victorian Muslim community in their dealings with government.
Letter from AH Pritchard, Secretary of the Austral-Indian Society, to the Collector of Customs, Victoria, seeking an extension of Saied Lal Shah's certificate of exemption, 8 July 1912
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NAA: B13, 1928/22985, pp.42–3
There are several letters from AH Pritchard in this file, organising details of Lal Shah's visits from 1911–17.
Letter from AH Pritchard, Secretary of the Austral-Indian Society, to Collector of Customs, Victoria, 17 June 1913
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NAA: E752, 1916/42, p.12
At the request of customs officials, local police interviewed residents of Kalgoorlie and Port Hedland to verify Said Kabool's claims concerning his residence in Australia.
Certificate exempting Said Kabool from the Dictation Test, 1916. Said Kabool arrived in Australia in 1896 and worked in Coolgardie for seven years.
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NAA: E752, 1924/24, p.9
The certificate obtained by Nabbi Bux, who worked as a camel driver around Wyndham, was originally valid for three years. Nabbi Bux successfully extended this for a further six years, but no date of return is recorded.
Photos of Nabbi Bux to accompany his application for a certificate exempting him from the Dictation Test, c. 1924
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NAA: M914, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3504
This is one of a series of photographs collected by the Australian National Travel Association to represent the Australian way of life in publications such as Walkabout.
Typical house in 'Ghan' town, Marree, South Australia, c. 1947
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NAA: M914, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3506
This is one of a series of photographs collected by the Australian National Travel Association to represent the Australian way of life in publications such as Walkabout.
Mosque in Marree, South Australia, c. 1947
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NAA: M914, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3510
Bejah Dervish was praised for his loyalty and resourcefulness on the 1896 Calvert expedition. One of the expedition's leaders, Larry Wells, named a landmark in the Sandy Desert 'Bejah Hill'.
Bejah Dervish, who was honoured for his role in the 1896 Calvert expedition, in Marree, South Australia, c. 1947
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NAA: SP42, C1905/3746, p.28
Sayid MS Banuri was unable to obtain a certificate of domicile, but a copy of this photograph was attached to a letter that would enable him to obtain a certificate of exemption upon his return to Australia.
Photograph of Sayid Mahomed Shah Banuri submitted for identification purposes, c. 1904
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NAA: SP42, C1905/3746, pp.17–19
This petition is signed by a large number of Muslim businessmen, some with the details of their business premises.
Letter from a number of 'Indians, Syrians and Australians' in Sydney to the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs, requesting that Sayid Mahomed Shah Banuri be permitted to return to Australia after his studies abroad, 13 January 1904
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