Sallay Mahomet

Sallay "Sal" Mahomet (16 September 1911 – 15 July 1983), sometimes spelled Saleh, was an Afghan-Australian cameleer and camel trainer who lived for much of his life at Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Mahomet was born in Coolgardie, Western Australia, to Afghan Cameleer Gool Mahomet and his French wife Desiree. He was the couple's first child - they would go on to have another two sons and three daughters - and his family moved around Australia for much of his childhood and early adulthood.

In 1931 the Mahomet family settled on Mulgaria Station in South Australia. Sal Mahomet worked there for many years, and took over management when his father died in 1950. In 1962 he sold the station and the following year moved to Alice Springs, where he established the 'Mahomet Trucking Company' with his three sons.

In 1975 Mahomet was asked to represent the Australian Government, then led by Gough Whitlam, on a trip to Saudi Arabia where he would present the King with camels as a diplomatic gift.

On his return from Saudi Arabia Mahomet sold his trucking company and established the Alice Springs Camel Farm, breaking in feral camels, making saddles and harnesses and teaching camel-handling. One of his students was Robyn Davidson, who completed a solo overland journey with camels across the Gibson Desert.

Mahomet died in 1983 at the age of 72 in Alice Springs.

(via Wikipedia)

The Gool Mahomet story. (2018). Farina Restoration Project [web page]. http://www.farinarestoration.com/page4/page55/index.html