About
About
The James Range Camels formerly known as Camels Australia was the first Camel Farm to be established in Central Australia in Alice Springs in the early 1980’s by the Camel legend Noel Fullerton. 
“A Territory Legend gone but never forgotten”.
John Herlaar - Director 
Camaleer is the Owner/ Director of Desert Dwellers, having arrived in Alice over 30 years ago as an upholsterer, established Alice Springs Upholstery/ Red Centre Swags and saw an opportunity to stock Camping gear. The rest is history, he is well known for his television Ad throughout Australia “ If we don’t have it...you don’t need it.”
With the love and connection to Camels, he traveled Safari with Noel Fullerton the original founder of the farm 20 odd years ago and was hooked for life.
His warm,approachable and gentle strength makes him a natural with the Camels with an innate understanding of their characteristics.
Simone Dann - Director
Camaleer is a local Territorian who grew up in Central Australia and the Northern Kimberleys as part of a 5th generation Pastoral family. Living on Country has given her a strong connection & understanding of the land, animals, it’s people and their Culture.
Like many in the Northern Territory, secondary schooling was off to boarding college down south which allowed her extensive opportunities of education and travel.
A qualified Stylist/Designer with many years in the Arts & Media, she is the Owner/ Director of Solace Hair & Well-being specialising in Self-Development Retreats and is passionate about the Healing and Visual Arts.
And Camels...
“Having both been in hospitality most of our working lives, together we embark on this long term Community project with a vision to establish a meeting place of Solace in an Eco-Tourism Retreat offering exclusive Camel Tours throughout the James Ranges, Rainbow Valley and beyond.”
Currently having lived full time at the farm since July 2018, we have established a close relationships with the herd of Camels and in particular operating with the public using our mature 12 working camels. We are both committed to working towards a positive herd management and use of resource like many of the collective community of Australian Camaleers, and are compassionate about giving people the opportunity to get to know these majestic, intelligent and intuitive beings who have carried many burdens to open up this wonderful country and so very deserving of Respect and Reverence.

Like any 9-12 year old, they are looking for boundaries and will mirror how you treat them, it takes time to bond, and when you earn their trust, their affection melts your heart and touches your soul forever.

Our team

We have two full time employees. Part time staff rotate through the busy season, to make up the team of all rounders that are needed to make life work on the land.

Dan McAuliffe

Camaleer who is the grandson of the legendary founder of the Camel Farm Noel Fullerton. Dan has also had a lifelong relationship with these wonderful animals, growing up on the farm as a younger lad he had one of the best Mentors in the industry. A big thing for a man to live up to in this country, yet he has all it takes and more with his big heart, gentle hand and considerate nature in the handeling and  understanding of the Camels.

Grace Bemo

Our Foodie and Barista who is passionate about cooking and brings a delicious Asian influence to the menu is just as handy with the camels and the handeling of the tractor for the feed run. With a degree in hotel managment and accounting through a graduate Visa in Perth, her intelligent sweet nature compliments the vast multi cultural visitors travelling through and we are all working towards her sponsorship in becoming an Australian citizen one day.

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The Camels

The family of 45 Dromadary’s are from a long line of decendance originally bought into the region by Muslim Camaleers, Australia’s inland pioneers between the 1860’s-1930’s. Most were born and bred on the property alongside others bought in as rescue animals.
Primarily our twelve mature working team make up a delightful string of lovable characters to meet and fall in love with, or at least taking a lasting memory home with you. Times in the season will see the different ages and stages of training and management of the herd.
Later in the season around October November the collection of their wool is processed with textile and upholstery workshops available during the seasonal program

Eco Tourism

We endeavour to do our part in working towards a sustainable future, leaving behind an environmentally friendly and economical footprint for our family generations to follow. One of the largest costs of living on the land is the fossil fuel needed to power the big diesel generators. Our first stage to reduce this usage was to install two complete stand alone Off Grid Solar power systems with their own small silent diesel generator (for backup) for the two accomodation houses on the property.

Our Eco Houses

  • House #1

      *   26 x WSP 310M6 Winaico solar panels

      *   Clenergy roof mount railing system

      *   1 x Selectronic SPMC482 7.5kW interactive inverter

      *   1 x Fronius 8.2-1 Grid connect inverter

      *   1 x Powerplus Solutions Lithium battery rack 10 port

      *   6 x Powerplus Solutions 48v 3.3kWh battery packs

      *   1 x Pramac P9000 diesel generator

      *   Cabling to integrate control systems

      *   Underground cabling to the point of connection on the house


    This system to the north-east of the property produces approximately 36Wh/day annual average and approximately 24kWh/day during the lowest production month in winter. With 18kWh of storage in the lithium battery storage system the diesel generator run time should be below 60hrs/ annum.

  • House #2

      *   32 x WSP 310M6 Winaico solar panels

      *   Clenergy roof mount railing system.

      *   1 x Selectronic SPMC482 7.5kW interactive inverter

      *   1 x Fronius 8.2-1 Grid connect inverter

      *   1 x Powerplus Solutions Lithium battery rack 10 port

      *   6 x Powerplus Solutions 48v 3.3kWh battery packs

      *   1 x Pramac P9000 diesel generator

      *   Cabling to integrate the control system

      *   Underground cabling to the point of connection to house


    The system south east of the property will produce approximately 45kWh/day annual average and approximately 32kWh/day during the lowest production month in winter. With 18Wh of storage in the lithium battery storage system the diesel generator run time should be below 100hrs/ annum.

Our current diesel usage is at approximately 100-120 litres per day, so these eco houses will provide a significant reduction in power production costs.


The two systems represent a reduction in diesel usage of approximately 60-70 litres/ day. At a cost of $1.85/litre plus reduced maintenance we would expect a saving of approximately $30-40k per annum.



We applied for and received support for the Renewables grant through the NT Gov Smarter Business Solutions - Department of Trade, Business and Innovation.

We are very grateful as every little bit helps, especially when it is spending money for the long term benefits.
Works done by www.ogdenpower.com.au

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Solar Water Bore

The second stage was installing a Solar Water Bore, which has allowed us to enjoy the peaceful ambience of our surroundings because we don't need to run the big diesel generator at all when closed. We still run it for the shop/venue in full operation which will be our third solar project in the future.


The bore is a Lorentz PS21800 controller, Caprari 4inch E4XED3/21 70L per minute at 90M head centrifugal wet end Lorentz 1800 centrifugal Solar motor fitted with a pressure sensor for constant pressure for tank filling and variable flow rates into irrigation.


With 10 x 320 Jinko Solar Panels, the pumping system is backed up with a Lorentz 2000R Power pack to provide 24 hour pump if required. The Pumping system is capable of producing 5,400L of water per hour at 60psi from a depth of 60M.

Our Estimated diesel savings for 12 months is up to 5,000L per year.


We also applied and received support for the efficiency grant through the NT Government, Smarter Business Solutions, Business and Innovation.