282 Valleys of Stone

CHAPTER 16

The Mount Malvern MinePam Smith

LTHOUGH NOT A significant mine site, the Mount Malvern Mine is an interesting relictA industrial landscape concentrated within a complex of stone ruins. The mine has had a

chequered history, having been opened and closed on at least five separate occasions between 1859

and 1925. At the time of its closure the mine had yielded 1852 tons of ore, of which 950 tons was

lead and 32,000 ounces was silver.

Today the mine is located on private land that is being revegetated and which is protected from

further development by the Hills Face Zone legislation. The mine is described on the Record of

Mines Summary Card no. 95 as being ten miles south of Adelaide and half a mile west of the

Clarendon Road (Primary Industries and Resources SA). This is approximately half way between

Coromandel Valley and Clarendon on Section 269, Hundred of Noarlunga.

The Mount Malvern Mine 283

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Silver was first discovered in the vicinity of the

Mount Malvern Mine in 1859 and a short drive

was sunk and named Southwell Rose. This

venture could not have been an economic

success, as there are no further records of the

mine until it reopened in 1870. Silver was

discovered at Scott’s Creek in 1869 and

stimulated local exploration and the reopening

of the mine. At this time the mine was renamed

the Mount Malvern Mine and a short drive and

an 18-foot shaft were sunk. Again, the mine was

Figure 16.2Mine shaft at the Mount Malvern Mine.

SOURCE HFZCHP 2004

abandoned soon afterward, as the ore was in a form that was not recognised.

Twenty years later the Inspector of Mines visited the Mount Malvern Mine and noted silver in the

overburden. As a result the mine was reassessed. The Inspector reported that:

The most noticeable feature in connection with the above samples is that chloride of silver should be found in such amatrix as heavy spar. I have never heard that it has been found in this colony or in any of the others in combination withsuch a mineral as heavy spar. I considered it my duty to have a sample tested (10 May 1890). 1

Interest in the mine was renewed following this report and a newspaper article, 12 September

1890, declared that the Mount Malvern Mine promised to become one of the best in the colony,

“being so close to the seaboard and the number of shares so small – 1,440.” The parcel of land

included 95 acres through which the lode could be traced for half a mile running from east to west.

The only shaft on the property at this time showed a baryta reef on the surface containing from 10

to 20 ounces of silver to the ton. Only three feet from the surface, however, this increased to 294

ounces to the ton.

The first ordinary meeting for the incorporation of this Company was held in the Widow’s Fund building onFriday afternoon. There was a fair attendance of shareholders. Mr DcDonald MP presided, and gave a statement ofthe work done, adding that the object was to open up the mine on the east and west line as soon as possible to test it.(August 1, 1891)

The Directors reported on 27 February 1892 that the mine “was opening up well, disclosing

large quantities of good grade ore.” A report on 1 September 1892 stated that Harvey’s shaft had

reached a level of 292 feet and that the drive had been extended 17 feet, 6 inches on the course of

the lode (see endnote 1). This article also describes how the men have been deployed in

constructing the road and that when the road is finished they will have three slopes working in “full

swing”. The article also states

got up fire in furnace according to instructions and have proved that the ore can be smelted on the mine successfully…everything in connection with the concentrator will be ready for starting on Monday next.

We also know from a newspaper report (23 April 1892) that stonemasons were employed to

284 Valleys of Stone

construct the smelter and, therefore, that the

smelter was made of stone.

The next report was given on 12 November

1892 and stated that the stull was completed

and that the men were working on the stope,

which was continuing to yield good ore. The

smelter was producing bullion daily and 223

bags of high grade ore had been despatched to

Port Adelaide. By 11 January 1893 a

blacksmith’s shop and carpenter’s shop were in

the process of construction and a pump had

been erected to feed the boiler.

The Mount Malvern Mine has been let on tribute to Mr

Figure 16.3Stone foundations, associated with thecrushing plant and boiler.

SOURCE HFZCHP 2004

T.K. Stubbins. The company’s funds are exhausted, and the scheme for reconstructing the company proved abortive.One cannot help feeling, however, that if there is ore in sight which will pay a tributor to take out, it surely ought not tobe impossible for the mine management to accomplish the entire thing in the interests of the shareholders.

Australian Mining Standard 12 August 1893:441

Between 1893 and 1900 the mine was worked on tribute, but it was not until 1906, with the aid

of a government subsidy that the Mount Malvern Silver Lead Company was formed. A large

amount of money was spent at this time to develop the site and a new main vertical shaft was sunk

to 317 feet. Work again ceased in 1908, but was resumed in 1913. By 1918 the mine reached its peak

and a total of forty men were employed, with the main shaft reaching a depth of 408 feet. The mine

was again forced to close in 1919 due to technical problems, although it briefly reopened in 1920

only to be closed again in the same year. It finally closed for good at the end of 1925.

It is interesting to reflect on the public expectations of the mine in the early 1890s:

It is devoutly to be wished for the benefit of all that this mine will be the forerunner of many others and prove that our‘inheritance in the hills’ has, in addition to its vegetable wealth, a mineral wealth that is capable of supporting incomfort a great population (Primary Industries and Resources SA archives).

HERITAGE SURVEY

A preliminary survey of the mine, which is on private property, was made during 2004 with the

owner of the property and the following features were recorded.

Water supply

Water is essential to mining operations, particularly for separating the ore and two small reservoirs

of water were constructed by the mining company. These reservoirs remain and are uphill from the

mine and approximately 400 m to the south-east. They are the only source of water in this vicinity.

No evidence of water channels could be found, although it is more likely that the water was piped

and the pipes have been removed.

The Mount Malvern Mine 285

The mine site

There are several shafts scattered over a wide

area, with the main industrial complex centred

on what is thought to have been the main

vertical shaft of 408 feet. Although the site was

not recorded in detail, several of the structures

associated with the mine were recorded. It was

not possible positively to identify Harvey’s

Shaft (sunk to 325 feet) or McDonald’s shaft

(sunk to 215 feet with many levels, drives and

winzes).

The smelter, the concrete foundations for a

crushing plant, an explosives magazine and a

series of smaller structures were identified. The

newspaper reports quoted above mention the

construction of several other structures,

including a concentrator, a smelter, a boiler

(used for raising steam), a ‘smith’s shop and a

carpenter’s shop.

Figure 16.4A stone structure thought to bea small smelter.

SOURCE HFZCHP 2004

Crushing plant

A series of stone walls had been built into the small cliff cut into the side of the hill. At the top of the

walls were two concrete platforms with large bolts embedded in them. It is thought that these

platforms supported a crushing plant, although there is no indication whether the crushing plant

was a roller-type or a stamper-battery.

Concentrator

A ‘concentrator’ is a machine used to concentrate the ore by removing non-valuable gangue (discard

material). This method relies on running water to carry the lighter material away. Two circular

concrete pads were noted adjacent to the main vertical shaft (4.9 m diameter) and although they

could not be positively identified, they may have formed a part of a concentrator. Concentrators are

of several kinds, for example, buddles and jigs (Pearson and McGowan 2000:88) but there was no

indication of the type of concentrator used in the mine records. In this instance, the concentrator

would have needed to separate not only the gangue, but the lead from the silver. Lead was by far the

largest amount of product recovered from the mine.

Smelter

A stone structure thought to have been a small reverberatory furnace was identified cut into the

base of the hill behind the footings for the crushing plant.

286 Valleys of Stone

The Adelaide Observer 19 March 1892

reported a resolution to proceed with the

erection of a reverberatory furnace. The

smelting would be:

… done with wood, of which there is an unlimitedsupply in the neighbourhood. The ore, being very highin lead and containing nothing refractory can besmelted more cheaply by this method.

Adelaide Observer 19 March 1892

Prior to the construction of the smelter, the

ore had been transported by way of the

Blackwood railway station to a smelter at Port

Adelaide (Primary Industries and Resources SA

archives). A reverberatory furnace is a brick

Figure 16.5A stone structure with brick quoins, possiblya magazine.

SOURCE HFZCHP 2004

furnace used for smelting concentrates. In this instance, there were two concentrates, lead

and silver. The crushed and concentrated ore and a flux would have been loaded into the furnace

and an intense fire maintained at one end in an external fire box. The hot gases then pass over the

ore and reverberate from the low ceiling of the furnace. Once molten, the metallic components

separate from the lighter slag and the metal and slag are drawn off separately (Pearson and

McGowan 2000:107)

Magazine

A substantial structure constructed from stone with brick quoins was cut into the side of the hill

behind the main mine area. The structure, illustrated in Figure 16.5, is of an unusual design and is

identified as a magazine on the basis of its very thick walls, 1,350 mm. A newspaper report (no

date) recorded that lead bearing galena ore had been won by blasting, a definite indication that

explosives were used in the mining operation.

Figure 16.6The ruin of a small cottage, possibly belongingto a miner.

SOURCE HFZCHP 2004

Figure 16.7A skip for hauling ore at the Mount MalvernMine site.

SOURCE HFZCHP 2004

The Mount Malvern Mine 287

Miners’ cottages

In the nineteenth century the Mount Malvern Mine was considered remote from the nearby

towns such as Clarendon, and the miners would have lived close to the mine site. Today there is

almost no evidence of their camp site or living quarters, although some small excavations are

thought to have been temporary dug-outs. Only one stone ruin, a two-roomed cottage was

identified in the vicinity of the mine. This was approximately 3-400 m southwest of the mining

complex and at the top of the hill.

CONCLUSION

The Mount Malvern Mine is now a relict industrial landscape protected by virtue of being on

private land which is currently being revegetated by the present owner. In addition to the stone

structures relics from the mining era are scattered across the landscape.

In addition, run-off from the tailing mound continues to pollute the Field River catchment even

though it is 85 years since the mine ceased to operate (title page image). The levels of pollution from

this mine should be assessed, particularly given the quantities of lead taken from the mine.

It is recommended that the mine site be surveyed by an historical archaeologist with experience

in documenting mining or industrial sites. The author is not in a position to assess the heritage

value of this site, although it is considered likely that the mine meets criterion C for assessing places

for entry in the Register of the National Estate (Pearson and McGowan 2000:21), that is:

C. The potential of a site to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Australia’s natural orcultural history.

NOTES

1 Several quoted passages are from newspaper articles, inwhich the title of the newspaper is not clear. The file isavailable from the archive held by the Department ofPrimary Industries and Resources, South Australia.

REFERENCES

Adelaide Observer 19 March 1892

Pearson, M. and McGowan, B. 2000 Mining Heritage Places:Assessment Manual. Australian Council of NationalTrusts and the Australian Heritage Commission,Canberra.

ARCHIVES

Primary Industries and Resources, SA Record of MinesSummary Card 95, and associated newspaper reports.