Jim and Kylie Finn, with one of their very relaxed camels at Bushfield Farm. Photos: Bushfield Farm.
We might be in the icy grip of winter here but where ‘Boogharty’ the camel originates, in the Northern Hemisphere, 22 June is the longest and hottest day of the year.
That’s why this Sunday marks ‘World Camel Day’, in honour of one of the world’s toughest animals.
Bogharty lives at Gundaroo’s Bushfield Farm, which comprises 70 acres of family-run property located in the Yass valley near the village of Gundaroo, only a short drive from the ACT.
Kylie and Jim Finn have been acquiring camels for their farm since 2022, and offering members of the public opportunities to get up close with them during regular ride days, meet-and-greets, special events like kids’ birthday parties, and much more.
The love affair started during regular trips into the outback.
“We adore these majestic creatures and believed having camels and offering people the chance to experience the incredible world of camels near Canberra would be an amazing opportunity,” Kylie says.
“Riding a camel is a dream for many, but not everyone can travel long distances. This is why we decided to establish a camel farm to provide a unique and unforgettable experience.”
We might think of Australia as having been carved out for European settlement on horseback, but it turns out camels have done a lot of the heavy lifting.
From the 1860s, around 20,000 camels and their handlers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere were brought to Australia.
Camel rides at Bushfield Farm cost from $80.
They were used to carry supplies during the construction of the north-south telegraph line and the Ghan railway, as well as carrying the timber for the wells along the Canning Stock Route. They played an active role during World War I too, transporting water, acting as ambulances, and carrying supplies and ammunition for Australian troops.
Camels also regularly carried food and other supplies into remote townships, transported mail, and held up Australia’s sheep industry by transporting the wool.
Twice now, they’ve singlehandedly saved the residents of the outback Queensland town of Cunnamulla: once, during a flood, when horses weren’t up to pulling the wagons through, and then later during a drought, when the camels were able to keep doggedly tramping on when horses would have died of thirst.
“The history of camels was one of the big drawcards for us,” Kylie says.
“I’d never read a book until I got camels, and now I’m constantly buying and reading books about the history of camels in Australia. It’s actually amazing how much they did.
“One of the things we really want to do here is set up a little museum, and have all this history up, so people can read all about the fascinating history of camels when they come out here.”
Look at those eyes.
Camels were largely phased out of Australian service in the late 1920s, but enough of them were released into the desert by their Afghan handlers that we’re now home to the largest population of wild – and disease-free – camels in the world.
Kylie and Jim have 11 camels, all originally caught in musters out in the desert to help control the number of wild camels and then trained by camel farms all over Australia.
“Camels are quite self-sufficient,” she says.
“We use electric fencing as they can easily step over traditional fences. They require regular worming, a diverse diet, and enjoy browsing for food. Their favorite foods include prickly plants, blackberries, thistles, and native vegetation like golden wattle and bottlebrush.
“We often take them for walks to let them graze on roadside treats. Our camels always have hay and loose salt available, along with other essential minerals. They also have a fondness for citrus fruits.”
Kylie says they’re “very smart animals”, trained to respond to voice commands.
“They’ll keep you entertained all day,” she says.
“One of them does everything on his own terms. One day, he loves you and wants heaps of pats. The next day, you might get two pats and that’s enough. We’ve got one big precious boy and you can’t walk past him without getting a kiss. He’s the biggest smoocher.”
Jim and Kylie want to set up a camel museum at their farm too.
And no, you don’t have to watch out for spitting.
Australian camels are Dromedary one-humped camels, unlike the more temperamental Bactrian camel variety found in central Asia.
“Hollywood has made a myth,” Kylie says.
“So no, they don’t spit, they don’t smell that bad, and they’re not necessarily cranky. In saying that, because they chew their cud, if they do get a bit distressed, they’re going to get rid of that – they don’t aim at you, they’ll just let out a growling sound and it might come out then.”
Bushfield Farm, at 490 Back Creek Road, Gundaroo, NSW, is open daily for camel rides and encounters. Bookings are essential online.
