Charles Allalook, Tarago Storekeeper

In the 1800s and early 1900s an illiterate Indian man, Charles Allalook, known as Rahm At Khan kept a general store at Tarago.

He was well respected in the district for his honesty and a story goes that once when he couldn’t remember who he sold a bag of sugar to he added it to all the accounts he sent out for the following month and about 50 people paid for the sugar.

Allalook's Store, Tarago (undated)

There was possibly a boot makers business in the left hand side of the building as the man on the extreme left seems to be holding a shoe and a hammer.

Later he retired from the store and became a hawker. He was said to be a very good cook, washing his hands every few minutes. When killing a fowl to cook he would say a prayer over it, what is possibly now known as halal.

In 1929, aged about 75 he was given a farewell banquet in his honour on his departure on an overseas trip to India, Singapore, Java and England.

On his return he went to live in Sydney where he died on 7th October 1935 at 563 Elizabeth Street. He was buried in the Mohammedan section of Rookwood Cemetery. He never married. His cousin, Moonsie Khan, a farmer of Lake Bathurst survived him.

Article and photo provided by Tom Bryant.


Does anyone in your family remember Charles Allalook or the Khan family of Tarago?  Do you have any idea what the letters S.P.Q.R or S.P.O.R seen on the roof of the building may mean?  Please share your memories.