Camel Water Tank

This compact water tank was designed to sit in front of a camel’s hump, a practical solution for long-distance patrols through dry country. In the 1930s and ’40s, camels were used by the Department of Agriculture to help patrol and maintain the Rabbit-Proof Fence, a vast barrier stretching thousands of kilometres across Western Australia.

With few wells or water sources along the way, these tanks were essential. They allowed camels and their handlers to carry precious drinking water across some of the harshest terrain in the state.

More than just a relic of pest control, this tank speaks to the ingenuity and endurance of those who lived and worked in remote Australia.