Former head of the Geological Survey of New South Wales, Dr Clifford McElroy, met John Bryan at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) where Cliff was a lecturer and John an outstanding PhD student.
Cliff formed Clifford McElroy & Associates (CMA) in 1970, bringing John on board that year, followed by another UNSW geology student, Kerry Whitby, the next year. CMA was renamed McElroy Bryan and Associates (MBA) in 1977. In 1979, John became managing director with Cliff continuing as chairman. In 1988, MBA became McElroy Bryan Geological Services (MBGS). John was named Chairman in 1998 and Kerry the Managing Director – roles they hold to this day.
In the early 1970s, our work included nickel exploration in Western Australia, prospecting for copper/lead/zinc deposits in central and western New South Wales for Mt Hope Mineral NL, mapping at Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine, as well as exploration in Papua New Guinea and the Arckaringa coalfield of South Australia and North Queensland’s Laura Basin.
Consulting activities in Queensland’s Bowen Basin expanded when Capcoal was granted the German Creek area in 1977 – John and Kerry managed the exploration (and designed the still-popular nine-hole golf course!). Involvement with German Creek mine continued until 1995.
From the late 1970s to 1980s, the company supervised gold exploration programme in NSW and coal exploration at Lake Lindsay, Gordonstone, Capella and Macalister in Queensland, Cornwall Coal Company in Tasmania, a new coal mine in Mae Moh Thailand and Gloucester in New South Wales.
In the 1990s, MBGS had a leading role in exploration for Bengalla, Dartbrook, Saddlers Creek, Cumnock, Howick, Mt Arthur North and Ulan projects in New South Wales, and Togara North, Newlands, Suttor Creek, Hail Creek, Tarong and Burton projects in Queensland. International activity included projects in Indonesia, China and Colombia.
The early 1990s also saw development of our computer modelling team, and the establishment of our Brisbane office, with senior geologist Rowan Johnson appointed manager.
For more than 10 years from the late 1990s, MBGS held an advisory and exploration management role for mines and projects owned by Xstrata Coal in New South Wales and Queensland.
In 2000, ASIMS began as a joint initiative between MBGS and Seedsman Geotechnics to supply high-quality acoustic scanner interpretation to the mining industry.
Since 2000, MBGS involvement in overseas projects has expanded to include work in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Indonesia, China, Mozambique, South Africa, Chile, Canada, United States, Congo, Mongolia and Sierra Leone. This has included coal, iron ore, gold and copper project reviews and development.
Since the company’s inception in 1970 MBGS has grown from a few employees to over 30 geologists. We maintain a sustainable business model to mentor and develop experienced geologists who will carry our industry leading practices into the future.
