Award-winning author Hanifa Deen will share her findings on early Muslim settlement in Australia in a public lecture Cameleers, Hawkers, Divers and Herbalists: Muslims in Australia in the Early 20th Century at the National Archives in Canberra on Wednesday night.

Over the past year Ms Deen and National Archives staff have been delving into the Archives collection, discovering information on the early Muslim settlers.

Their findings have come together as an online biographical feature that pays tribute to the role of the early settlers and includes very human stories of cameleers, hawkers, herbalists and pearl divers, amongst others.

‘I unearthed a goldmine of material and discovered a whole cast of fascinating Muslim characters who helped build the Australia we know today,’ said Ms Deen. ‘The early Muslim pioneers helped open up this country.’

‘I am very proud of what I call my “hawker pedigree”. Both my grandfathers came to Australia in the 1890s, one a Punjabi, the other a Kashmiri, to work as hawkers in Western Australia and Victoria. My Muslim family has maintained a continuous presence in Australia now for five generations.’

In her research at the National Archives, Hanifa Deen came across letters, photographs, government documents, court transcripts and newspaper clippings that help reveal the human face of Muslims in Australia over the years.

Individual stories include Mahomet Allum, the renowned herbalist and philanthropist, and pearl diver Samsudin bin Katib who worked for the Australians behind enemy lines during World War II but later became embroiled in controversy.

Ms Deen will give a public lecture on her findings at 6pm and will also be a guest speaker at the official launch of the online biographical feature earlier in the day.

The public is welcome to attend the lecture at 6pm on Wednesday 29 August but bookings are essential on (02) 6212 3956 or events@naa.gov.au.