The Geological Survey of Western Australia is an authority within the Department of Mines and Petroleum

Department of Mines and Petroleum

The Department of Mines and Petroleum is a department of the Government of Western Australia. The department was formed on 1 January 2009, out of the former Department of Industry and Resources and Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, which were split into three new departments, the...

  of the Government of Western Australia

Government of Western Australia

The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...

 that is responsible for surveying and exploration of Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

's geological resources.
The department provides information to industry, technical support and professional guidance to government on geology, mining and petroleum resources.

Historically the Survey has existed under the various names of the Mines Department has been ascribed by various governments.

Also some sections have moved between the survey and other departments, such as the hydrogeology section which was moved to the Waters and Rivers Commission in 1996