While Marvel Loch was operational before and after the sale, the Gwalia mine was already placed in care and maintenance at the time of the transaction.

During its period of ownership Reynolds acquired the Southern Cross Mill and adjacent tenements including the Transvaal Underground Mine and the Cornishman Open Pit (a 50/50 joint venture with Troy Resources NL) located approximately 25 km (16 mi) north of Marvel Loch.

[11] After a rapid rise of the company, unauthorised gold and foreign exchange trading activities by chief financial officer Eardley Ross-Adjie in the year to June 2000, ended up costing Sons of Gwalia more than A$190 million.

[12] Sons of Gwalia went into administration on 30 August 2004, following a financial collapse, with debts exceeding $800 million after suffering from falling gold reserves and hedging losses.

[13] Sons of Gwalia was Australia's third-largest gold producer and also controlled more than half the world's production of tantalum.

In July 2009, St Barbara suspended open pit mining at Marvel Loch and decided that the treatment plant would be operated on a week-on, week-off basis.