Marree Mosque

Part of a series on Islam in Australia

History

Early history Afghan cameleers Battle of Broken Hill Contemporary society Halal certification in Australia Islamophobia in Australia

Mosques

List of mosques Lakemba Mosque · Auburn Gallipoli Mosque Central Adelaide Mosque • Marree Mosque

Organisations

Islamic organisations in Australia AFIC · ANIC • LMA · IMAA · IISNA • ICQ • ICV • MWA

Groups

Afghan • Albanian • Arab • Bangladeshi Bosnian • Indian • Indonesian • Iranian Iraqi • Lebanese • Malay • Pakistani • Turkish

Events

National Mosque Open Day

People

Prominent Australian Muslims Ibrahim Abu Mohamed

The Marree Mosque was built in Marree, South Australia around 1882 (some sources indicate as early as 1861), by members of the South Australian "Afghan" community. These "Afghans" were generally Muslims from then-British India, although some came from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East. They worked as cameldrivers and breeders in the region. Figures indicate an approximation that 3000 "Ghans" were involved in this type of work until it was overtaken by the car and train in the 1930s.

The mosque was constructed by camel breeder Abdul Kadir (Australia), owner of Wangamanna Station. Another camelleer, Mullah Assim Khan, became imam of the Marree mosque in the early 20th century. The town eventually had two mosques, the northern of which was abandoned around 1910. Another report indicates a mosque was deliberately demolished in 1956 by its elderly caretaker, Syed Goolamdeen, who could no longer maintain it, since many descendants of Afghans no longer practised Islam.

As of 2003, the descendants of the Afghans in Marree have rebuilt the mosque.

File:The mosque at Marree SLSA B-15341.jpeg

The Mosque at Hergott Springs (circa 1884). The pool in the foreground was used by worshippers for washing their feet before entering the Mosque

See also

• List of first mosques by country

Further reading

• Australia's First Muslims at ArdernObservations blogspot