Malcolm, Western Australia

Malcolm Western Australia
Malcolm
Established:	1897
Postcode:	6438
Coordinates:	28°56′09″S 121°30′49″E / 28.935903°S 121.513594°E / -28.935903; 121.513594Coordinates: 28°56′09″S 121°30′49″E / 28.935903°S 121.513594°E / -28.935903; 121.513594
Elevation:	371 m (1,217 ft)
Location:	852 km (529 mi) North East of Perth 19 km (12 mi) East of Leonora
LGA:	Shire of Leonora
State District:	Kalgoorlie
Federal Division:	O'Connor

Malcolm is an abandoned town located between Leonora and Laverton in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.

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 boasted six stores, three hotels and two bakeries at this time. The townsite was gazetted in 1897.^[1] 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.

The town derives its name from a geological feature located just outside he town called Mount Malcolm. The mount was named by John Forrest while exploring in 1869. Forrest had in turn named the feature after his friend and fellow explorer Malcolm Hamersley.

The total area of the town was 1 square mile (259 ha). The town was also the centre of the Mount Margaret goldfield.^[2]

References

1. ^ Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of country town names". http://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/History+of+country+town+names. Retrieved 2011-02-22. 
2. ^ "Morowa District Historical Society". 2009. http://members.westnet.com.au/caladenia/ghosttowns/Ma-Mn.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-22.