The first camels came to Australia from the Canary Islands in 1840. Nine camels were brought for the purpose of aiding the exploration of John Horrocks. None of these initial â¦ camels survived, although the first one lived for six years-long enough to shoot Horrocks.hese were the predecessors of today's wild camels. Camels continued to be brought over by later explorers. It was not uncommon for the explorers and/or the Afghan cameleers to release their camels, or for the camels to escape.
The expedition arrived in San Diego on May 14, 1769, the first overland party to reach Alta California. The next day, on May 15, Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra set out across the rugged, arid land of Baja California with a contingent of soldiers and Baja mission Indians.
Located at 1760 Mission Drive (Highway 246) in Solvang, this lovely Old Mission was 19th of 21 missions built in California from 1769 to 1836 by Franciscan priests. It was also the first European settlement in the Santa Ynez Valley. At the Museum you can see artifacts and works of early European and Indian art.