[1] Prospecting rights over the future mine were first obtained by Gwendolyne Stevens, a South Australian nurse and sheep farmer who had developed an interest in geology.

[2] She obtained rights over 1,282 square miles (3,320 km2) of the Oenpelli Aboriginal reserve and named the area "nabarlek" after a local marsupial species.

In August 1971, the technical committee of QML revised its estimated yield for Nabarlek to 9,000 tonnes, leading to calls for the resignation of Hudson and a steep fall in the share price.

[4] In May 1973, the original licence-holder Gwendolyne Stevens transferred her rights to Queensland Mines in exchange for a royalty agreement.

QML initially offered $7,425 in exchange for the mineral rights, which by 1974 had grown to a package of $891,000 in cash plus a royalty valued at $13.6 million, which was rejected.