May Queen Gold Mine, Marvel Loch, Yilgarn Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
May Queen Gold Mine	Mine
Marvel Loch	Loch
Yilgarn Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The May Queen Gold Mine is 6 kilometres north of Marvel Loch, and 100 metres east of the Southern Cross-Marvel Loch Road. Despite a busy history, little remains at the site. It was probably the richest small privately owned gold mine in the Marvel Loch area. It has never been developed by modern mining.

The deposit was discovered by Frank Liddle and William Domney, around 1912. They obtain 10 000 pounds worth of gold out of the mine, until they left it in 1923. The lodes were described as narrow, and at the 230 foot level heavy with pyrite. GML 852. 24 acres. May Queen.

It should be noted in 1915, a Melbourne syndicate named themselves and the King of The Range lease the May Queen. This lease was elsewhere in the region in the Parker Range, and was done so to induce investors into thinking it was the rich May Queen mine at Marvel Loch. The King of the Range lease has been known as the May Queen ever since, even information published by modern exploration companies.

In 1923, the mine is taken over by a Perth syndicate, called the May Queen Gold Mining Company, led by investor Allan Doust. The mine returned them 20 000 pounds. A battery and plant are erected. The mine was poorly managed, or the money spent unwisely and the mortgagee stepped in. Experienced miner, W.J. Heydon began mining but for various reasons was unable to sink a new shaft, and left for the Pilot Mine, elsewhere in the region.

In 1930, the Adelaide based Revelation Company, changed its name to May Queen Gold Mining Company, and took out an option over the mine. In 1933, a group of Italian migrants from Kalgoorlie formed a syndicate to take over and work the mine. It remained in this ownership until at least 1947.

On April 24 1937, Giovanni Bonzi died from an explosion at the mine. He had been lowered down the shaft to set charges, however when he was raised to the surface not only was Bonzi in the bucket but also a primer which exploded when reaching the surface. How the primer got into the bucket remains a mystery.

The jury took the unusual step of apportioning blame. In dozens of these cases I have looked at from the 1890's to World War Two, only one other case did a jury make a suggestion to improve safety. Even this was struck out by the judge. Mine Manager Joseph Santino Giudice was blamed for not employing a properly certified engine driver, and posting signage about Mines Department approved signals at the top of the shaft. Further, it stated the Mine's Inspector at Southern Cross could more actively manage safety at mines to try and prevent these deaths from occurring.
It appears to have had little effect. The replacement engine driver, Arthur Ball, was killed at the mine on February 4 1939.

The mine closed in this year. In 1941, a company takes over, but it is thought under option, as it is still under Italian ownership. They re-condition the plant, un-water the workings and deepen the shaft. Considering the high costs and lack of labour for this period, it is thought proceedings quickly ground to a halt.

The last information found when a Perth syndicate took out an option over the May Queen from owners Bob and Pen Pinizza, Silvio Reghenzami, Louis Tuana and V. Giudice. The mine at this time has a main shaft to 400 feet on a reef 3 feet wide. Overall at this point the mine has produced 6000 tonnes of ore for 15 000 ounces of gold. Still on the lease at this time is a complete plant including a 5 head mill.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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