| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 357 (by Language, 2021)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| New South Wales,Victoria | |
| Languages | |
| Australian English,Balochi | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Baloch diaspora |
Baloch Australians (Balochi:استرالیاءِ بلۏچ) orThe Baloch of Australia areAustralian citizens who are ofBaloch ancestry or who hold Australian citizenship. There are measurable numbers of Baloch inAustralia.[2]
Many of the so-called early "Afghan cameleers" in Australia were Baloch men who came from theBalochistan region (parts of present-dayBalochistan province in Pakistan,southern Afghanistan andeastern Iran).[3][4]
Baloch cameleers began arriving in Australia during the late 1800s, primarily to support the inland pastoral industry by transporting goods and supplies using camels. At their peak, there were around 2,000 cameleers and 4,000 camels operating across Australia.[5][6]Small groups of cameleers were shipped in and out of Australia at three-year intervals, to service the Australian inland pastoral industry by carting goods and transporting wool bales by camel trains.[4]
Dost Mahomet andDervish Bejah Baloch[7] were Baloch cameleers who worked theWestern Australian Goldfields in the late 1890s.[8][9][4] Baloch would later settle inHergott Springs where he fathered a sonBen Murray with Karla-warru (also known as Annie Murray), who was anArabana andThirari woman.[10][11]
The Baloch cameleers significantly influencedAustralian culture, establishing makeshift mosques known as "bush mosques" during their travels. One of the earliest mosques in Australia was built by Baloch cameleers in Hergot Springs (Maree, South Australia) in 1884.[12]
Today, there is a notable number of Baloch individuals in Australia[13] pursuing education and employment opportunities. The community continues to celebrate its heritage while integrating into Australian society. Sabah Rind a fourth generation Baloch woman continues to speak Baluchi at home.[14]
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