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Wirrealpa Sheep Station, Flinders Ranges

Blinman played a great support role in the building of the Overland Telegraph Line. It became home for the great unsung heroes of the contruction - the Afghan cameleers and their camels.

These pilots of the desert brought 18 camels to South Australia in 1838 and helped erect fences, acted as guides and supplied virtually every inland town, mine or station with their goods and services.

Their base was actually Beltana where a breeding program was started, but in 1870, the Afghans went on strike and most moved to Blinman. At any time there was up to 10 camels in the area.

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