Item MM 8352 Negative - Ford Model B Tourer Motor Car with Two Men & Camel Team, Coober Pedy District, South Australia, 1935

Summary

A Ford Tourer Model B car and two men with their camel team consisting of four camels in the Coober Pedy District of South Australia, circa 1935. The Model B Ford Tourer was in production from 1932 - 1935.

From 1908 Model T Fords began to be mass produced. They were at first a novelty in the outback, but as time progressed the strength of the new vehicles made it clear that they would be ideal for long distance travel and for moving goods. Camels could no longer compete with the new rise of mechanisation. The rise of the motor car saw the fall of the camel train. 'Afghan' cameleers and their camels were now out of work, and the camels were set free to roam. Australia is now the only country with a known herd of wild Dromedaries (Arabian Camels).

Description of Content

A Ford Tourer Model B car and two men with their camel team consisting of four camels. The landscape is bare with a single bush in the back left of the image.

Physical Description

Black and white negative.

Significance

From 1908 Model T Fords began to be mass produced. They were at first a novelty in the outback, but as time progressed the strength of the new vehicles made it clear that they would be ideal for long distance travel and for moving goods. Camels could no longer compete with the new rise of mechanisation. The rise of the motor car saw the fall of the camel train. 'Afghan' cameleers and their camels were now out of work, and the camels were set free to roam. Australia is now the only country with a known herd of wild Dromedaries (Arabian Camels).