Broken Hill Mosque facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Broken Hill Mosque (Mohammedan Mosque and Afghan Mosque)
The former mosque in 2007
Religion
Affiliation	Islam (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mosque (1887–c. 1950s) Museum (since c. 1967)
Ownership	Broken Hill City Council
Status	Closed (as a mosque); Repurposed
Location
Location	Buck Street, Broken Hill, City of Broken Hill, New South Wales
Country	Australia
Location in New South Wales
Architecture
Completed	1887
Materials	Corrugated iron

The Broken Hill Mosque is a special building in Broken Hill, Australia. It used to be a place of worship for Muslim people and is now a museum. It was built by Afghan cameleers, who were camel drivers. This mosque is also known as the Mohammedan Mosque or Afghan Mosque. It is owned by the Broken Hill City Council and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 23, 2010, because of its important history.

A Look Back at History
What the Mosque Looks Like
Why the Mosque is Important
See also

A Look Back at History

The Land of the Wiljakali People

Long ago, many Aboriginal groups lived in the western plains of New South Wales. The Wiljakali people were the main group around Broken Hill. They moved around a lot because water was hard to find. This also meant that European settlers didn't come to this area as quickly.

Aboriginal ways of life continued here longer than in other parts of NSW. But by the 1870s, things began to change. Many Aboriginal people had to go to stations or missions during dry times. Later, government policies led to many Aboriginal children being separated from their families.

Broken Hill's Mining Story

The name "Broken Hill" was first used by explorer Charles Sturt in 1844. Towns like Broken Hill, far from big rivers, grew because of valuable minerals. Gold, silver, copper, and opal were found here after 1875.

Broken Hill town started on land from Mt Gipps Station. In 1883, three workers found the first minerals. They were Charles Rasp, David James, and James Poole. They formed a group called the Syndicate of Seven. Philip Charley found the first silver in 1885. Soon, a town grew, first with many temporary buildings.

Camels and Cameleers in Australia

In the 1800s, camel drivers and their camels were very important in inland Australia. They carried goods, water, mail, and tools across the continent. This was before roads and railways were built. These brave camels and their drivers helped with big projects. They helped build the Overland Telegraph line. They also joined many exploration trips into Australia's unknown areas.

About 20,000 camels came to Australia in the late 1800s. Their drivers came from many different countries. These included places like Kashmir, Egypt, and parts of what are now Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. People often called them "Afghans," even if they weren't all from Afghanistan.

Camels arrived in the Broken Hill area in 1866. They were brought by Sir Thomas Elder. The "Afghans" were already settled when Broken Hill was discovered in 1883. Camel teams were a common sight in the area. Camels pulled heavy wagons, carrying up to ten tons. The cameleers lived a simple, traveling life. They were Muslim and did not drink alcohol. This made them popular for carrying drinks to hotels.

Afghans and their camels helped explorers map the outback. They were among the first non-Aboriginal people to see places like Uluru. They even helped build the overland telegraph from Adelaide to Darwin. This line connected Australia to London. Later, railways were built, including the famous "Ghan" line. This train was named after the Afghan cameleers.

The cameleers often traveled alone or in small groups. They usually had short work contracts. Women and children did not come with them to Australia. They lived and worked together, following their Islamic faith. They prayed five times a day and followed special dietary rules. They often camped along camel trails or in "Ghantowns" outside settlements.

Dost Mahomet was a well-known Afghan camel driver in Broken Hill. He helped explorers and is believed to be the first Muslim buried in Australia. His grave is near Menindee.

Mosques: A Place for Muslim Culture

Muslims generally lived apart from European settlers. They first lived in camel camps, then in Ghantowns. For much of the year, they were alone, missing their community. Muslims pray five times a day, connecting with God. They can pray anywhere clean, facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca.

A mosque, called a "Masjid" in Arabic, is a special place for prayer. It's where Muslims gather for daily prayers and festivals. It's also a place for learning and community activities. The Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, talks about mosques as places where God's name is remembered.

The Prophet Muhammad said that mosques are God's houses on Earth. He said that those who visit them are blessed. A mosque shows that Muslim people are present around the world. It's a place for guidance, learning, and helping others. Important Muslim celebrations include Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The Afghans would stop working during Ramadan to fast and pray together.

If cameleers were far from a mosque, they still prayed. Many people remember seeing Afghans stop their camel trains in the bush to pray on their mats.

Broken Hill's Ghantowns

Broken Hill was a busy place where camel trails met the railway. It was a meeting point for Afghans and Europeans. There were two camel camps in Broken Hill. One was in north Broken Hill, and the other in west Broken Hill. Each camp had its own mosque. The west camp mosque was moved later behind the main north camp mosque. This north camp mosque is the one we see today.

Ghantowns and Aboriginal camps were usually outside the main town. This kept "whites" separate from "others." In towns where Afghans worked, there were often three groups: Afghans, Aboriginal people, and Europeans.

Even though cameleers helped Australia grow, they faced challenges. They experienced unfair treatment and were kept separate. Labor unions tried to stop them from working. But when cars replaced horses, camels were no longer needed. By World War I, there wasn't much work for camels or Afghans in NSW.

Many cameleers had to find new jobs. They became hawkers or day laborers in cities like Adelaide and Broken Hill. After the war, camel transport ended. Many Afghans returned home or moved to Pakistan. Some married Aboriginal women, and a few married European women. Those who stayed became part of either the Aboriginal or European communities. The Ghantowns slowly disappeared as their purpose ended.

The Broken Hill Mosque

The first mosque in New South Wales was built in Broken Hill in 1887. This was 16 years after the first mosque in Australia, the Marree Mosque, was built in Marree in 1861.

The Broken Hill Mosque is at 703 William Street and 246 Buck Street. The cameleers lived in two camps. The mosque we see today was part of the north camp. The mosque from the west camp was moved behind it around 1903.

The land for the mosque was bought by Afzul, a camel driver, in 1903. The mosque was used for worship for over 40 years. It fell into disrepair after Afzul, the last regular Muslim leader, passed away. His son, Abdul Fazulla, inherited the land. In 1967, the Broken Hill City Council bought the land. The Broken Hill Historical Society saved the mosque from being torn down. They restored it, and it was reopened as a place of worship and museum in 1968.

The Broken Hill mosque is a simple building. It is made from corrugated iron and wood. This is the original color and a common color in Broken Hill. An old description of the camp mentioned:

"Two camps of teamsters on the sandy outskirts of the town, squalid collections of rusty corrugated iron and hessian humpies. They were at most two roomed dwellings...narrow, rutted lines bisected the huts. There was a stone built mosque in a small, sandy square, its low minaret scantily shaded by a dusty pepper tree. They were picturesquely squalid characters, known popularly among us in boyhood years as "hooshtas" from the command they gave the camels... All of them wore turbans and long baggy white cotton trousers..Sunday mornings we visited the "Ghan" camps...Children in large number played in the dust at the doors of the huts…".

The men, especially older and more religious Muslims, went to the mosque often. Friday was the most popular day for prayer. Some Afghans would not work on Fridays between noon and 2 pm. A mosque attendant would call people to prayer by singing loudly. Abdul Fazulla remembered Mohamed Raffeeg doing this. His voice would carry across the camp. The mosque was used regularly until the 1940s and less often until the last Mullah (religious leader) died in the 1950s.

People must take off their shoes before entering the mosque. The Afghans also washed their feet before going inside. They would stand by a concrete channel, and water was poured over their feet. Then they walked on special stepping stones to enter.

Today, there are few descendants of the early Afghan families in Broken Hill. The mosque was not used for many years. The Broken Hill Historical Society now cares for it. They have created a small museum inside. It displays camel bells, nose pegs, photos, and camel saddles. There is also a walking stick that belonged to the last Mullah. The Broken Hill Council opens the mosque for worship if people ask. Muslim travelers often stop to pray here. Members of the NSW Afghan Community and the Islamic Council of NSW visit annually to worship.

In 2016, the caretaker, Amminnullah Robert Shamroze, worried about the mosque's condition. It had termites and water damage. In April 2017, the state government promised $113,000 for repairs. The Broken Hill City Council matched this amount. This money helped fix the walls and floor.

What the Mosque Looks Like

The mosque is at 246 Buck Street and 703 William Street in North Broken Hill. You can get to it from Buck Street.

The building is made of corrugated iron sheets and wood. It is painted a rust-red color, which is common in Broken Hill. It is in good condition. The room next to it, called an anteroom, is made of the same materials. The prayer area has a special alcove called a miḥrāb. This alcove shows the direction of Mecca, which is where Muslims face when they pray.

The mosque is on a dusty plot of land. There are date palm trees planted in 1965 by the Broken Hill Historical Society. At the entrance, there are two olive trees. These were planted by the Islamic Council of NSW in 2008.

You can also see original wooden and iron camel wagon wheels on the site. These were used by cameleers like Shamroze Khan. Inside the museum, there are camel bells, nose pegs, and prayer mats. There is also a book of Bengali Sufi poetry and a handwritten Sufi manuscript.

Outside the mosque, there is a place with water for washing. This washing, called wuḍūʾ, is done before prayer. The special stepping stones used to enter the mosque are now kept in the anteroom.

Why the Mosque is Important

The Broken Hill Mosque is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is rare because it was the first mosque built in NSW. It is also the only surviving mosque built by cameleers in Australia. Built in 1887, it shows that "Afghan" cameleers were pioneers in the Australian outback. It is a physical reminder of Islamic culture in Australia.

The mosque is also important to the Islamic community in NSW and Australia. It is highly respected by Muslim leaders. It is a holy site and a place of worship. The Broken Hill Historical Society also values the mosque. They have taken care of it for many years. The mosque serves as both a museum and a place for Muslim travelers to pray.

The Broken Hill Mosque helps us understand Islamic culture. It shows how Muslims contributed to the early days of the NSW outback. It is a rare source of information about early Islamic settlement in Australia. Because it is the only surviving cameleer mosque, it gives us a unique look into this part of Australian history.

The mosque is a great example of a "Ghan town" mosque. It uses local materials like corrugated iron. It shows how a community adapted to life in a new country.