Gascoyne Patrol

Exmouth, Western Australia

The Gascoyne Patrol Minister is based in Exmouth, Western Australia, and the patrol covers more than 200,000 square kilometres from Onslow south to the Murchison Settlement and from the Indian Ocean east to Gascoyne Junction.

The region is comprised mainly of pastoral stations some of which are owned by Aboriginal communities. There is also a large fishing industry found at Exmouth Gulf , Onslow, Denham and Carnarvon. A salt mining complex (using evaporative pondage systems) is based at Lake Macleod northwest of Carnarvon. Oil and mineral exploration also characterises the area. Smaller communities include Useless Loop, Monkey Mia (tourism associated with dolphins), the Gascoyne Junction, Coral Bay , and the Pannawonica Mine township.

Formerly known as the Gregory Patrol, AIM Padres visited the area from as early as 1914. The patrol padres were based in Port Hedland (1927) and at Meekatharra (1932), as well as in the Hamersley Ranges area. For a number of years the Gregory Patrol was without a minister, but in 1988 it was re-established and in 2000, the base was moved from Carnarvon to Exmouth and the name of the patrol changed to the Gascoyne Patrol.

The Patrol Minister exercises a liturgical and sacramental ministry to the many pastoral stations in the region.

Tourism is starting to increase with the result of more people coming into the area placing a greater need for care and support.

Currently this Patrol Ministry is vacant.