See Marree Mosque, Marree, South Australia

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The Afghan cameleers erected their first mosque in Marree in 1884. This replica is the third mosque erected in the outback town but it is not used as a mosque. Many Afghan cameleers were based at the springs as this was the starting point for camel trains to Birdsville, Oodnadatta and elsewhere. Around 1900 about 1,500 camels were based in Marree with 800 owned by just one Afghan. Although motor transport developed in the 1920s the Birdsville track cameleers were in Marree until 1949. Recently a replica Muslim mosque has been erected in the town to commemorate the role the Afghans played in servicing the Birdsville track. The first Mosque open by 1884 and was replaced twice before it closed. Its prayer rugs were sent to the Gilbert St. Mosque in Adelaide. Afghan names in Marree included Dervish, Moosha, Khan, Balook, Wahub, Dadih, Goolamdeen etc. Tom Kruse ran a truck mail service to Birdsville from 1936 to 1963 although the service continued until 1975 when an air service took over. 300 or so date palms were planted in Marree as a trial in 1884 but they did not thrive after about 30 years. The new standard gauge railway to Marree opened in 1957 employing about 85 men as the Ghan to Alice Springs changed gauge here from standard to the narrow 3’6” gauge. This railway closed in 1980 and the town has declined but tourism keeps it alive.

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