Historical information

Margaret Malone was associated with a kaolin mine at Mount Egerton.

WOMAN WHO MANAGES A MINE
Works With A Vision
(By a Special Corespondent)
BALLARAT, August 22.—Like a Heroine in a Bret Harte story of the Soaring: Forties Miss Margaret Malone, the only woman mine manager in Australia, has lived most of her life in an atmosphere where hope springs eternal in the gold-seeking breast. Forty years ago her father gave up farming to seek the elusive mineral near Ballarat.
"One day my mother went for a walk along the Gordon-Egerton road and picked up a pebble with a few specks of gold in it," she told an interviewer yesterday, recounting the early history of the nine she now runs at Egerton. "Dad said, There must be more where that came from,' and hopefully sank a shaft. Our hopes were dashed, however, when he found only white clay. No one realised then the value of the disappointing looking white stuff which was all that Dad could find from every shaft he sank. At last be gave up the search, and the kaolin remained untouched."
Later an Englishman from a pottery town in the old country urged Mr. Malone to try and sell his clay, and he sent some to the Bendigo potteries, but nothing came of it, and it was left to Miss Malone, after her father's death, to start on her unusual career by finding purchasers in Sydney and Melbourne for her clay, and herself working the mine.
Strenuous Work
"Mine managing is strenuous work in more ways than one," she admitted. "I have, to go down my mine daily, ad sometimes have to descend perpendicular ladders for about 150 ft. to reach areas being worked. I have to be my own manager, she explained, "because it is necessary to teach the men I employ the methods of grading clays."
A New Cure
She is convinced that a number of uses for kaolin, apart from pottery, soap and drugs, are yet to be discovered. "One of my employees has already found a new use for it," she said, "although scarcely one to be generally recommended, perhaps. By chewing a small piece of the clay he firmly believes that he "cured himself of heart burn."
"All That Glistens"
There is more in Miss Malone's mining than meets the eye, however. The actual working of the field and the substantial profit she makes on it do not fill her days. Always before her - dangles the compelling vision that caused her father, in his day, to give up farming to seek for gold.
"All the time I am getting my clay dug," she confessed, "1 am watching for the colour of gold. One of these days I may strike it." WOMAN WHO MANAGES A MINE
Works With A Vision
(By a Special Corespondent)
BALLARAT, August 22.—Like a Heroine in a Bret Harte story of the Soaring: Forties Miss Margaret Malone, the only woman mine manager in Australia, has lived most of her life in an atmosphere where hope springs eternal in the gold-seeking breast. Forty years ago her father gave up farming to seek the elusive mineral near Ballarat.
"One day my mother went for a walk along the Gordon-Egerton road and picked up a pebble with a few specks of gold in it," she told an interviewer yesterday, recounting the early history of the nine she now runs at Egerton. "Dad said, There must be more where that came from,' and hopefully sank a shaft. Our hopes were dashed, however, when he found only white clay. No one realised then the value of the disappointing looking white stuff which was all that Dad could find from every shaft he sank. At last be gave up the search, and the kaolin remained untouched."
Later an Englishman from a pottery town in the old country urged Mr. Malone to try and sell his clay, and he sent some to the Bendigo potteries, but nothing came of it, and it was left to Miss Malone, after her father's death, to start on her unusual career by finding purchasers in Sydney and Melbourne for her clay, and herself working the mine.
Strenuous Work
"Mine managing is strenuous work in more ways than one," she admitted. "I have, to go down my mine daily, ad sometimes have to descend perpendicular ladders for about 150 ft. to reach areas being worked. I have to be my own manager, she explained, "because it is necessary to teach the men I employ the methods of grading clays."
A New Cure
She is convinced that a number of uses for kaolin, apart from pottery, soap and drugs, are yet to be discovered. "One of my employees has already found a new use for it," she said, "although scarcely one to be generally recommended, perhaps. By chewing a small piece of the clay he firmly believes that he "cured himself of heart burn."
"All That Glistens"
There is more in Miss Malone's mining than meets the eye, however. The actual working of the field and the substantial profit she makes on it do not fill her days. Always before her - dangles the compelling vision that caused her father, in his day, to give up farming to seek for gold.
"All the time I am getting my clay dug," she confessed, "1 am watching for the colour of gold. One of these days I may strike it." (WOMAN WHO MANAGES A MINE
Works With A Vision
(By a Special Corespondent)
BALLARAT, August 22.—Like a Heroine in a Bret Harte story of the Soaring: Forties Miss Margaret Malone, the only woman mine manager in Australia, has lived most of her life in an atmosphere where hope springs eternal in the gold-seeking breast. Forty years ago her father gave up farming to seek the elusive mineral near Ballarat.
"One day my mother went for a walk along the Gordon-Egerton road and picked up a pebble with a few specks of gold in it," she told an interviewer yesterday, recounting the early history of the nine she now runs at Egerton. "Dad said, There must be more where that came from,' and hopefully sank a shaft. Our hopes were dashed, however, when he found only white clay. No one realised then the value of the disappointing looking white stuff which was all that Dad could find from every shaft he sank. At last be gave up the search, and the kaolin remained untouched."
Later an Englishman from a pottery town in the old country urged Mr. Malone to try and sell his clay, and he sent some to the Bendigo potteries, but nothing came of it, and it was left to Miss Malone, after her father's death, to start on her unusual career by finding purchasers in Sydney and Melbourne for her clay, and herself working the mine.
Strenuous Work
"Mine managing is strenuous work in more ways than one," she admitted. "I have, to go down my mine daily, ad sometimes have to descend perpendicular ladders for about 150 ft. to reach areas being worked. I have to be my own manager, she explained, "because it is necessary to teach the men I employ the methods of grading clays."
A New Cure
She is convinced that a number of uses for kaolin, apart from pottery, soap and drugs, are yet to be discovered. "One of my employees has already found a new use for it," she said, "although scarcely one to be generally recommended, perhaps. By chewing a small piece of the clay he firmly believes that he "cured himself of heart burn."
"All That Glistens"
There is more in Miss Malone's mining than meets the eye, however. The actual working of the field and the substantial profit she makes on it do not fill her days. Always before her - dangles the compelling vision that caused her father, in his day, to give up farming to seek for gold.
"All the time I am getting my clay dug," she confessed, "1 am watching for the colour of gold. One of these days I may strike it." (Adelaide Observer, 31 August 1929.)

Physical description

Hand written letter from Margaret Malone of the Mount Egerton Mine.

Inscriptions & markings

Mount Egerton Mine
February 10/14
The Manager
Mining Dept
Dear Sir,
Last Monday week, I left with Mr Martell, a parcel of stone to be treated, requesting that cost of treatment, be deducted from some and balance of gold be forwarded me to above address.
I was informed, this would occupy about a day or so, but not having received any communication so far, I shall be glad to hear from you are same.
Yours faithfully Margaret Malone