Brookman Brothers Boulder Gold Mine, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Brookman Brothers Boulder Gold Mine	Mine
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines	Group of Mines
Kalgoorlie-Boulder	- not defined -
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Brookman Brothers Gold Mining Company Ltd was formed in 1895,
with 120 000 pounds capital, but 90 000 pounds went on the purchase price, leaving only 30 000 shares in the control of the public. They acquired two leases called Marvel and Park totalling 36 acres. The company produced voluminous reports regarding the development of the mine. A ten head battery was erected.

In 1899, George Mulvay and party were tributing on the Marvel lease. GML 261E. They had employed a certain Horan, who was then sacked. Horan organised a group of miners, and started alluvial mining elsewhere on the lease. This led to a rush of several thousand (the company claims) alluvial miners onto the lease.

There had been several disputes between companies and alluvial miners the prior two years, leading to men being arrested, jailed and riots in Kalgoorlie. The company was concerned for its tributing arrangement, as Mulvay had been forced off the lease. Ore had been removed amounting to 120 tonnes. Parliament had enacted laws preventing alluvial miners from working company leases, whereas prior to this the regulations barred them only from a certain distance of the shafts. Alluvial miners were conducting a campaign of civil disobedience over the issue.

The company in its typical wordy fashion, suggested to the Mines Department, the alluvial miners be allowed to stay, and instead pay 10% of gold found to the tributers. The company was unaware of the alluvial gold until after the diggers had arrived. This appears to have diffused the situation, as opposed to other mining companies on the Golden Mile, who had taken legal action, and called in the police.

In 1901, the company recommended amalgamating with the North Kalgurli Mine. Australian investors recommended reconstruction instead to raise the funds needed.This was also supported by the mine manager. After lauding the mine manager, the previous few years in shareholder reports, they now state his reports had been conflicting, and possibly wrong information had been provided.A representative of the Great Boulder Mine was brought in as an independent expert.

His report was less favourable regarding ore reserves, although he was paid by the company to produce the report. This was presented to the English shareholders, who voted for amalgamation.

We cannot leave this lease without mentioning Sir George Brookman, after which the lease is named after, and who was part of the board in its early days. This is a man who makes everyone else feel depressingly lazy.

He was a member of the Commonwealth Repatriation Board, State War Council, organised four Australia Day celebrations in South Australia, chairman of the War Savings Committee, member of the Anzac Hospitality Committee, Executive of the Red Cross, Governor of the Adelaide Hospital, on the Adelaide University Council, member on the board for the Bank of Adelaide, directorate for the Mintaro State Council, and on the boards of several mining companies. This was just in retirement.

He was born in Glasgow on April 15 1850, and arrived in South Australia as an infant. He entered private business as a share and stock broker. He joined the board of the Adelaide Stock Exchange in 1890. When Paddy Hannan discovered gold at Kalgoorlie, a fifteen member syndicate was formed, and Brookman was sent to find gold.

He is credited with discovering the Golden Mile, pegging what would become the Great Boulder, Lake View Consols, Ivanhoe, Associated, and several other mines on the goldfield. He stayed and undertook the difficult task of establishing mines in the then remote area, before returning to South Australia in 1896, having amassed a fortune.

He constructed his office building in Grenfell Street, and donated money to establish the Australian School of Mines and Industries. Brookman Hall was named after him. He was elected to two terms in state parliament.

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