Australian Sikh Farmers
When you think of Australian Sikh Farmers, the first thing that comes to mind is bananas, closely followed by sugar cane and then oranges, blueberries etc.
What is lesser known is the contribution of the early Australian Sikhs to the WA Wheat belt.
“Others coming into this northern area between 1904 and 1906 were J.Seaman (later Paveys), J.Barr, Charr Singh, Le Cornu’s, and Stan Fisher.”
“At the Charr Singh property there were five adults living there by 1908. These people built strong stone buildings, using stones from their block and mud mortar. They built their home with a large kitchen which had a large fireplace at one end. These men were distinctive in appearance. Being tall in build and all wore their national turban.”
“There were newcomers too, from China and India. The brothers Spoon Singh and Kheva Singh were Sikhs who had come with their camels to carry goods and water in the Goldfields and whose services were also in demand during the construction of the Rabbit Proof Fence. Spoon and Kheva, as well as Gooda and Charr Singh, farmed in the area and in the off season Kheva would call on farms in a four-wheeled wagon, with merchandise for sale - everything from tea-towels, footwear and bed lines to the latest in ladies fashions. The Sikhs were also well-known for breeding good light horses. Jack Wilson remembers Kheva, who often camped on his family’s property ‘as a handsome round faced Father Christmas, who, as the Sikhs never cut their hair or whiskers, and wore turbans adding to their mighty stature, made him appear to be about seven feet tall.’ In 1910 Charr Singh is listed as having been granted a block in the Quairading townsite.”
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