Karratha was established on Nickol Bay as a result
of a lack of suitable land for expansion at Dampier and is the residential,
educational and service centre for the area. Karratha now has the best service
facilities in the North West.
Dampier,
located on King Bay, faces the islands of the Dampier Archipelago. Hamersley
Iron established the town as a port outlet for ore mined from two of the world's
richest iron ore deposits at Mt. Tom Price and Paraburdoo. The deep water port
with its export facilities sees over 80 million tons of ore loaded each year.
Other exports include salt (from the solar salt-works) and natural gas products.
Approximately 9,000 people
live in Karratha and 1,500 in Dampier. There are many young families and few
elderly people.
Worship
centres within the area are St. Mary Magdalene (built 1977) Karratha. Some parishioners stay
only a couple of years, though others have had several years here.
The Rev. Les and
Mrs Jenny Gaulton have previously served in the parish of North East Goldfields
in this Diocese (1992 - 2002). They have four adult children.
In Partnership with BCA
