WAPort & river
Carnarvon
A river-mouth port supplied an immense sheep district.
1883Town gazetted · Gascoyne pastoral port
WHAT STARTED IT
Carnarvon was gazetted near the Gascoyne River mouth as a port and supply depot for pastoral stations. A tramway built in 1884 carried wool and goods between town and the jetty.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
The port handled a vast sheep hinterland before irrigation along the river supported bananas and other horticulture. A NASA tracking station opened in 1964 and relayed communications associated with the Apollo lunar missions before closing in 1974.
TURNING POINTS
1883Carnarvon gazetted as a port town.
1884Tramway connects town and jetty.
1964NASA tracking station established.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A Gascoyne service and horticultural centre, with fishing, tropical crops and space-tracking heritage alongside its pastoral-port story.