Basilica of St Patrick, Fremantle

St Patrick’s Fremantle was established around 1850, as the third Catholic community in Western Australia after St Mary’s Parish in Perth, and the Benedictine community in New Norcia.

Until 1894, the Parish was mainly served by Diocesan Priests, with the exception of the 1850s, when it was served by a number of Benedictines for a short time. Since 1894, the Parish has been entrusted to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as their first foundation in Australia.

As Fremantle has grown from a fledging penal colony to a thriving and vibrant cultural hub, St Patrick’s Parish has played an essential role in the growth and pastoral care of the community, particularly because of its proximity to the town’s port. While many of St Patrick’s first parishioners were Irish, World War II drove a new wave of European migrants, including from Italy, Portugal and Croatia, who brought new multiculturalism to the community with their religious festivals, which have become an integral part of the life of the City of Fremantle.