Bank of England Gold Mine (Kalgoorlie Bank of England), Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Bank of England Gold Mine (Kalgoorlie Bank of England)	Mine
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines	Group of Mines
Kalgoorlie-Boulder	- not defined -
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Bank of England mine was a small 10 acre lease in the central east area of the Golden Mile. The North Boulder lease bordered it to the north and east, Royal Mint to the south, and Associated mines to the west. The mine was developed by the Kalgoorlie Bank of England Gold Mining Company, based in Adelaide, active on the lease from 1895 to 1903.

Despite its small size, its position on the field would indicate it should have been a rich mine. It guzzled shareholder funds, with little in return. Minor mining occurred but not nearly enough to cover the wasteful expenditure.

The mine manager was instructed to purchase a 10 head mill in 1898, however in the process of erecting it, he was advised to dismantled the mill. This was sold and carted away to the Lady Mary mine at Norseman, at tremendous cost, with a ball mill and cyanide plant being installed instead.

'At a meeting of the Kalgoorlie Bank of England, Mr George Brookman, said the old manager was so expensive that he was deposed'. The wording indicates the parting was not amicable. This was confirmed shortly after, with now former manager William Nelson, slamming the board for wasteful expenditure. He suggests the board should go and the mine let on tribute, and there is much to agree with his view.

April 1898, the company requested a further 60 000 pounds capital from shareholders. The company was reconstructed in March 1899, basically a request for more money from shareholders. September 1900, the company states it has run out funds again. It notes 12 000 pounds had been spent since reconstruction, but fails to account for where the rest of the money went. It is reconstructed again in September 1901, with 37 500 pounds raised.

Sphalerite, variety marmatite, was found in large quantities in the mine, and was rare elsewhere on the Golden Mile. The mine also contained appreciable quantities of cinnabar, specimens of which local collectors would sell their children for. Spongy gold was found in large quantities and minor telluride, mostly coloradoite.

The mine was purchased by the neighbouring North Boulder Gold Mine in 1903, and the Bank of England company was wound up. The Bank of England lease is purchased by the Boulder Perseverance company in 1924. The company sold the lease in 1933 to the newly London floated Westralian Gold Development Company, led by 'dodgy' speculator Charles de Bernales.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References