Malcolm is an abandoned town located between Leonora and Laverton in the Shire of Leonora in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It was also known as Mount Malcolm.[1][2] Gold was discovered in the area in 1895, and in 1896 the local provisional committee lobbied the government to perform a survey and declare a townsite. The town had six stores, three hotels and two bakeries at this time. The townsite was gazetted in 1897.[3] In 1900 the town was incorporated and had kerosene street lights and a swimming pool. In 1903 over 200 buildings were located in town and the population had reached 450. By 1904 the town had a population of 400 along with six hotels and a brewery.
| Malcolm Western Australia | |
|---|---|
  Malcolm | |
| Coordinates | 28°56′11″S 121°30′50″E / 28.936478°S 121.513978°E |
| Established | 1897 |
| Postcode(s) | 6438 |
| Elevation | 371 m (1,217 ft) |
| Location | |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Leonora |
| State electorate(s) | Kalgoorlie |
| Federal division(s) | O'Connor |
The town derives its name from a geological feature located just outside the town called Mount Malcolm, which was named by John Forrest while he was exploring in 1869. Forrest had named the feature after his friend and fellow explorer Malcolm Hamersley.
The total area of the town was 259 hectares (1 sq mi). The town was also the centre of the Mount Margaret goldfield.[4]
Malcolm was a stop on the Kalgoorlie to Leonora railway line and the junction for the branch line to Laverton.[5][6][7]
References
edit- ^ "Mount Malcolm". The Inquirer and Commercial News. Vol. LVIII, no. 3, 232. Western Australia. 24 March 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 13 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Premier's Tour". The West Australian. Vol. 15, no. 4, 084. Western Australia. 3 April 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 13 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "History of country town names – M". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ^ "Morowa District Historical Society" (PDF). 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ "Public Transport Authority: Railway System: April 2019" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Railway map of Western Australia, 1952". Trove. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Arc Map Network" (PDF). Retrieved 13 August 2024.