Empress of Coolgardie Gold Mine (Empress), Coolgardie, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Empress of Coolgardie Gold Mine (Empress)	Mine
Coolgardie	City
Coolgardie Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Located 5 kilometres south of Coolgardie, between the Dreadnought pit to the south and the Tindals pit to the north-east. A small open pit was developed on the site in 2011 by Focus Minerals. The abandoned pit is now partially filled in, and surrounded by a mullock plateau and bund. The mining was the result of a gold discovery in 2002. However the location dates from at least 1894, and had a tortuous early history.

In September 1894, little had been done at the location other than some very basic exploration work. The mine was floated in London at this time hoping to raise 90 000 pounds capital as the Empress of Coolgardie Gold Mines Ltd. It was the height of the boom in new gold mining companies for Coolgardie/Kalgoorlie. Investors in London were falling over themselves to hand-over money for new gold mines in Western Australia on the promise of riches to come. In reality most of these companies never paid a dividend, and went bust within a few years. A select few were a bonanza for investors.

A London newspaper called The Economist decided to make an example of the Empress float, as a typical investment scheme to avoid. This led to a war of words between the paper, and legal representatives for the promoters. The Economist stated out of 90 000 pounds capital being raised, 75 000 pounds was going to the vendors and promoters leaving only 15 000 working capital to develop the mine. It stated the vendors were greedy, and such floats will eventually retard the development of Coolgardie. This discouraged potential investors, and the float was changed to 60 000 pounds capital with 30 000 pounds going to the vendors. Another problem was within the prospectus was a glowing report on the mine by Zebina Lane. This man had some influence being involved in management of Broken Hill mines. He stated in the prospectus the Empress would become the greatest mine in the world, and further would astonish the world, amongst other totally ludicrous statements. Lane was one of the vendors set to benefit financially from the float. Several years later his career would be ruined by similar misjudgements.

So the end result was 20 000 shares were subscribed out of the 60 000. The underwriters stepped in, the float withdrawn, and the money was attempted to be raised privately. Somehow they were able to obtain enough to erect a 10 head stamp mill and start crushing. J. McFadden and Duncan Russell sued Lane in April 1897 for 1000 detained shares, and 2000 pounds in damages. The deposit was a large low grade affair. After a few crushings with poor results operations stopped. The company reconstructed in 1896 and 1898, meaning the original shareholders each time lost their money and new capital was sort. It made no difference. The battery was dismantled.
April 1896 nickel and cobalt was discovered at the deposit. It was not until the late 1960's, that the region was recognised as a major world player for nickel.

At some point around 1900, the Phoenix Gold Mines Co had control of the mine, but went into liquidation a couple of years later. No work was being carried out on the mine so in 1903 Daniel Brown jumped the claim, and requested forfeiture of the lease in the Warden's Court. This was approved, but then overturned by the Minister of Mines, the mine handed back to the bankrupt company. It was claimed the liquidator for the company E.A. Griffiths had misrepresented that a new company called Crown had been established to take over the mine, however this new company never got off the ground past the promoters. The liquidator had claimed protection under section 114 of the company act.

Despite similar cases occurring both before and after this event, a local newspaper pursued the issue as a scandal. Local politicians requested a Royal Commission which was declined by the Premier, but a parliamentary committee was established to investigate. After several trips to Kalgoorlie, some long lunches, a number of people giving evidence that amounted to little, many letters from people to the papers trying to protect their reputation, a report was issued. This stated the Mines Minister was not at fault, which lay squarely at the feet of Griffiths. However, Griffiths gets nothing personally out of trying to deceive the Minister. It was a waste of money over a storm in a tea cup. Daniel Browne was awarded 750 pounds for having the mine taken away from him. It was only two years later, after local papers checked, that the government sent him the money. The development of the mine when Browne controlled it was financed by Isabella Nathan, who got nothing.

Until 1912, the site was operated by several tributing parties. It was reported a strong syndicate had been formed in 1913 to take over the mine, but nothing more is heard. From 1923 the mine is owned by Martin Lillis who is making a living by producing small tonnages. To this point the mine had produced 18 536 tonnes of ore yielding 14 dwt/t (ounces are not mentioned). Another source in 1924 states the mine to that point had produced 15 692 tonnes of ore for only 5840 ounces of gold.

An Adelaide company called Glea Gold Mines takes a 12 month option over the mine in 1933, and changes the company name to Empress Gold Mines. A new plant is installed being the first in the area for 30 years, and opens March 1934. The mine is sold to Tindals Gold Mine Ltd (London) in 1936. This company purchased a number of old mines in the area. Some mining took place through a central processing plant, but the company abandoned the leases in 1949.

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