Established 1897 State electorate(s) Kalgoorlie Postal code 6438 Federal division Division of O'Connor | Postcode(s) 6438 Elevation 371 m Lga Shire of Leonora | |
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Location 852 km (529 mi) North East of Perth
19 km (12 mi) East of Leonora Weather 19°C, Wind S at 24 km/h, 76% Humidity | ||
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. 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 the 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.