Claude de Bernales

“He charmed the hardest financial hearts, and his persuasive powers when it came to negotiations were such that the outcome was evident from the start.”
— J.H. Laurence, The West Australian, 12 December 1963

Claude Albo de Bernales was one of Western Australia’s most flamboyant and influential figures, credited with both saving and advancing the state’s gold mining industry. Born in London on 31 May 1876, he arrived in the Western Australian Goldfields in 1897 at the young age of 21, bringing with him little more than ambition—just £5 to his name.

Once in Kalgoorlie, de Bernales found work as a clerk for the Davis Machinery Company, a business that played a crucial role in supplying equipment to the mining industry. In a testament to his sharp business acumen, he later bought the very company he once worked for, laying the foundation for his growing financial empire. He soon began to acquire interests in gold mines, striking deals with miners who lacked capital but needed machinery. His entrepreneurial activities attracted millions of pounds to the Western Australian Goldfields—as well as to his own pockets.

De Bernales convinced investors from London and Paris that the future of gold mining was highly profitable, provided that mines were recapitalised and equipped with modern machinery. His timing was impeccable; by 1931, the collapse of the exchange rate caused the price of gold to rise significantly, revitalising the gold industry. This resurgence helped cushion Western Australia from the full effects of the Great Depression, reinforcing de Bernales’ reputation as a financial mastermind.

However, his success came under scrutiny. In 1936, he returned to London, but by 1939, allegations of corruption led to his companies being suspended from trading on the London Stock Exchange. Although an investigation was launched, he was never brought to trial. By the 1940s, his vast business network collapsed, and his companies were forced into liquidation. The full story of these events remains a mystery, but some answers may be revealed in 2025, when Scotland Yard’s files on the investigation could be re-opened.

Despite his financial downfall, de Bernales left an indelible mark on Western Australia’s mining history. He briefly returned to Western Australia in 1958, but spent his final years in London, where he passed away on 9 December 1963, at the age of 87. His legacy remains a fascinating tale of ambition, wealth, and controversy, forever linked to the fortunes of the Goldfields.