Broken Hill Mosque facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broken Hill Mosque |
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Broken Hill Mosque, 2007
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| Location | Buck Street, Broken Hill, City of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Owner | Broken Hill City Council |
| Official name: Broken Hill Mosque; Mohammedan Mosque; Afghan Mosque | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 April 2010 |
| Reference no. | 1819 |
| Type | Mosque |
| Category | Religion |
| Builders | Afghan Cameleers |
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The Broken Hill Mosque is a special mosque and museum located on Buck Street in Broken Hill, Australia. It was built by amazing people called Afghan cameleers. This mosque is also known as the Mohammedan Mosque or Afghan Mosque. It's owned by the Broken Hill City Council and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 23, 2010, which means it's a very important historical place.
Contents
The Story of Broken Hill Mosque
Early Days in Broken Hill
The land around Broken Hill was traditionally home to the Wiljakali Aboriginal people. They lived here for a very long time, moving around to find water. Because water was scarce, European settlers didn't come to this area as early as other parts of New South Wales.
The name "Broken Hill" was first used by explorer Charles Sturt in 1844. The town of Broken Hill grew because of the discovery of valuable minerals like gold, silver, and copper after 1875. In 1883, three workers found the first mineral deposits on a property called Mt Gipps Station. These men, along with others, formed a group called the Syndicate of Seven. In 1885, they found a lot of silver, and soon, Broken Hill became a busy town.
The Amazing Afghan Cameleers
In the 1800s, camel drivers and their camels were super important for exploring and developing inland Australia. They pulled heavy wagons, carried water, mail, and equipment across huge distances. This was before roads and railways were built!
These brave cameleers came from many different countries, including Kashmir, Sindh, Rajasthan, Egypt, Persia, and parts of Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Even though they came from various places, they were all often called "Afghans."
About 20,000 camels were brought to Australia in the late 1800s. The first camels arrived near Broken Hill in 1866. The "Afghans," or "Ghans" as they were known, were a common sight in Broken Hill. Their camel teams could pull ten-ton wagons about 15 miles a day! They lived a simple, traveling life. Since they followed the Islamic faith, they didn't drink alcohol, which made them popular for carrying drinks to hotels.
Cameleers helped with big projects like building the Overland Telegraph line, which connected Australia to London. They also guided explorers into unknown parts of Australia. The famous train line, the 'Ghan,' is even named after them!
Why Mosques Were Important to Cameleers
The cameleers were Muslims, and their faith was very important to them. They often lived in special "Ghantowns" on the edges of settlements, away from European populations. They prayed five times a day, wherever they were, even in the desert.
A mosque, called a "Masjid" in Arabic, is a special place for Muslims to pray and connect with God. It's also a place for the community to gather, learn, and celebrate important Islamic events like Eid ul-Fitr (marking the end of fasting) and Eid ul-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice). During the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, the cameleers would stop working to fast and pray together.
The Broken Hill area was a central meeting point for camel trails. There were two camel camps in Broken Hill, and each had its own mosque. The mosque we see today was part of the northern camp.
The Broken Hill Mosque's History
The first mosque in New South Wales was built in Broken Hill in 1887. This was after the first mosque in Australia was built in Marree, South Australia, in 1861.
The Broken Hill Mosque is located at 246 Buck Street. The original mosque at the west camp was moved in 1903 and placed behind the main north camp mosque, which is the one still standing today.
The land for the mosque was bought by a camel driver named Afzul (also known as Faizullah) in 1903. The mosque was used for worship for over 40 years. After Afzul, the last regular Muslim leader, passed away, the mosque fell into disrepair. In 1967, the Broken Hill City Council took ownership of the land. The Broken Hill Historical Society then helped fix it up, and it was reopened for worship in 1968.
In 1955, a newspaper described the cameleers' camp in Broken Hill. It mentioned the simple homes made of corrugated iron and hessian, and a stone mosque with a small tower (minaret). The cameleers were known for their turbans and white cotton trousers.
The men, especially the older ones, went to the mosque regularly, especially on Fridays, which is like Sunday for Christians. A mosque attendant would call people to prayer by singing loudly from the mosque grounds. Before entering, Muslims remove their shoes and wash their feet. The mosque had a special concrete channel for this washing and stepping stones to enter.
Today, there are not many descendants of the early Afghan families in Broken Hill. The mosque was not used for many years but was saved by the Broken Hill Historical Society. They now look after it. A small museum inside the mosque shows items like camel bells, nose pegs, and old photos. The Broken Hill Council also opens the mosque for worship if people ask. Muslims traveling through Broken Hill often stop to pray here, and members of the NSW Afghan Community visit annually.
In 2016, the mosque's caretaker, Amminnullah Robert Shamroze, who is the grandson of the last Mullah, shared concerns about the building needing repairs due to termites and water damage. In 2017, the state government promised $113,000 to help fix the mosque, with the Broken Hill City Council matching the funds.
What the Mosque Looks Like
The Broken Hill Mosque is made of corrugated iron sheets and wood, painted a rust-red color. This color is typical of Broken Hill and was the original color of the mosque. It's in good condition.
Inside the prayer area, there's a special alcove called a miḥrāb in the wall. This alcove shows the direction of prayer (qibla) towards Mecca. Outside, there are date palm trees planted in 1965 and olive trees planted in 2008.
You can also see original wooden and iron camel wagon wheels on the site, which were used by cameleers like Shamroze Khan. Inside the mosque and its front room, there are camel bells, nose pegs, and prayer mats. There's even a book of Bengali Sufi poetry and a handwritten Sufi manuscript, showing the rich history of the people who used the mosque.
Near the entrance, there's an area with water for wuḍūʾ, which is the washing ritual Muslims do before praying. The special stepping stones that people used to enter the mosque are now kept inside the front room.
Why the Mosque is Important
The Broken Hill Mosque is very important because it was the first mosque built in New South Wales. It's also the only mosque built by cameleers in a "Ghan town" that is still standing in Australia.
It shows us the amazing history of the "Afghan" cameleers who helped explore and develop the Australian outback in the 1800s and early 1900s. It's a special reminder of Islamic culture in Australia.
The mosque is also important because of its connection to the Islamic community in New South Wales and Australia. It's a place of worship and a holy site. The Broken Hill Historical Society also values the mosque greatly, as they have looked after it for many years.
The mosque helps us understand the history of Islamic culture and its role in the early days of the New South Wales outback. Since it's the only surviving mosque built by cameleers, it's a rare source of information about this part of Australian history.
The Broken Hill Mosque is a unique example of a "Ghan town" mosque. It shows how a community adapted to life in a new country while keeping their traditions alive.
