Margaret bale / Martin Able

(1881-1952)

In December 1909 28-yr old Margaret Bale purchased a suit of male clothing and a pair of boots. After having her hair cut in Cottesloe, she buried her female clothing in the sandhills and dressed in the boys clothing. For the next seven months she lived and worked as a man in Fremantle (and then Perth), under the name ‘Martin Able’. Her adventures only ended when she was recognised and forced to resume women’s clothing again. Her adventures were later recounted for the Golden Gate, a Fremantle newspaper.

Margaret Bale was born in Colchester, England in 1881, the third daughter of Major John Edward Bale, a retired officer of the 1st West India Regiment.

Margaret wanted a ‘good position’ and adventure, and despite her parents disapproval, travelled to Western Australia on the Persic in Dec 1906, having signed a contract to spend 3 years teaching music and art, at the Sisters of St. John's High School, Lamington Heights, Kalgoorlie. It was 101 degrees the day she arrived in Feb 1907.

Dec 1909 Three years later her contract had finished and the Sisters had booked Margaret’s passage home, in the new year, on the White Star Line:

“As was the custom we came to the coast to spend the Christmas vacation… There had been no premeditation on my part. I have always acted impulsively. It was quite suddenly while in Perth I discovered that I did not wish to go home, and I determined there and then I would not go; that Margaret Bale must disappear by some means or other. But how was it to be done? As Miss Bale I could not expect to remain in hiding for any length of time in the metropolis. I conceived the idea of disguise…”

Dec 22, 1909 “At Freedman's in Hay-street, I purchased "for my brother" a summer suit of camel hair cloth at a cost of fifteen shillings, a straw ‘boater’ for Is, and other items. I was wearing a white flannel shirt blouse, with linen collar and tie. I remembered there was a little hairdresser's shop at Cottesloe Beach, so I set off in that direction… The barber was a foreigner, and when I asked to have my hair cut very short "like a boy's" he was profoundly astonished. From the hairdresser's shop I made my way towards the sea, and in a secluded spot among the sand dunes overlooking the beach- I donned my male attire, and went to some trouble to bury deep in the sand, the hat and shoes I had been wearing. My skirt and other things that I could, I put in my handbag. Then I drew breath, and with it some much needed courage…

Now, where shall I go? I asked myself. Where shall I live? Then I thought of Fremantle. They would not think of looking for me right under their noses. And perhaps they would think I had gone to the Eastern States. I decided upon Fremantle and arrived there about five. It was a very hot day and my first ‘manly act‘ was to call at the Kia Ora Cafe (now 2-6 Market st). While Miss Priestley was getting me a lime juice and soda I had a look at myself in the mirror. Not so bad, I thought, but rather young looking for a man—you had better be a boy. So boy I became (adapting my voice to suit my apparent age), and boy I think I remained until my capture. No one appeared to take the slightest notice of me, so my confidence increased, and I patrolled the streets.”

The first job ‘Martin’ applied for successfully, was as ‘a strong boy’ at the Oddfellows Hotel, Fremantle:

December 30, 1909 “Mr Purcell the proprietor of the hotel engaged me at 11 o'clock, and I started in my first situation at noon- a highly excited and joyful ‘boy’. I soon found that I needed all the courage with which I had fortified myself. Some of the duties were dirty and disagreeable, and most of them very heavy, requiring indeed a strong boy… Alf, the yardman, was very kind to me as indeed were all those in the house. I was a great favorite with the barmaids, Mrs Gorrie, Miss Browder and Miss Poly… Another friend I had was Hah Sen, the Chinese cook, (see Hassan Dicton). I adapted myself to the process of breaking down whisky and brandy, moving barrels about, carrying loads of bottles from the cellar to the bars, wrapping up bottles ready for customers, chopping wood, and cleaning sinks, beer engines, and glasses. Some days I was almost worn out through sheer hard work. At first I continued to sleep at the restaurant, but one of my earliest ordeals faced me a few days after when I was I informed that I must sleep at the hotel. I leave you to gauge my consternation when I discovered that I was not to have a room to myself; that I must share one with the yardman. But a kindly Fate came to my assistance in this dilemma. My roommate had of necessity to be up very early and by I choice came home very late, so I really saw less of him than he saw of me at night.”

This habit getting up later than the yardman soon became a problem for the Proprietor and after three weeks Martin was ‘let go’.

On January 25, 1910, Martin applied to work at Joyce Bros., Hessian and Calico Bag Makers, Cantonment-street Fremantle. He started as a repairer of bags, overlooking the bags as they came from the sewing machines of the ‘shop girls’, in order to detect any imperfections. After three weeks at Joyce Bros., Martin felt sick and relinquished the job.

When he had recovered Martin was sent to the elite Gentlemans club- Fremantle Club, (at 19 Henry St, now no 1) with a note to the effect that he was a ‘clean and intelligent boy’. Mr Hudson, the head steward engaged him as ‘third steward’ the next day, with a salary of 15' per week and quarters. 

“My duties were to sweep and dust the rooms; to polish the mirrors and all the brass fitments; to assist in the bar, clean windows; to fill the match holders and biscuit boxes and to keep the periodicals and furniture in order… At first I had some difficulty in carrying a tray loaded with glasses and decanters. Mr Hudson had told me to look straight ahead, and not at the object I was carrying. 'Hold your head in the air, Martin, and let the tray take care of itself," he used to say. 

While serving at the bar I encountered many questioning glances, and often overheard myself being discussed… One day the Chevalier Ratazzi brought a friend into the 'strangers' room for refreshment, just as I was preparing tea. As was his custom he called for lager beer, which should have been available but was not. After searching in vain for some time, during which I wish to say the Chevalier maintained quite a stoical calm, I told him there was none in the bar.”

This incident led to Martin leaving his position with the Fremantle Club- still unaware that a woman had iinfiltrated their male refuge.

At this time he moved to lodge at Mrs Raymond’s Boarding House, at 97 Market street. Her husband Harry Raymond was secretary of the National Political League (forerunner of the Liberal party) and as there was soon to be a Federal election (13 April 1910) he offered Martin a job in the League Office (Mouat St, opposite to the Imperial Restaurant), at £3 a week; his duties were copying electrol rolls, addressing and posting pamphlets and general clerical work needed for an electioneering campaign. William Hedges was the Member hoping to be reelected. (Hedges had won the Fremantle seat in the House of Representatives in December 1906 for the Western Australia Party. He retained the seat for the Fusion/Liberals in 1910, but lost to Labor's Reginald Burchell in 1913.)

Martin liked to buy new clothes and learnt how to smoke;

“From the White House (J. A. Hicks and Co.) I got a nice white duck suit, and of course, I had altogether a very elaborate wardrobe, including some lovely shirts, ties, collars, waistcoats, spare trousers, socks (hot and cold), neat boots and shoes, hats and caps…. I also visited Messrs. Saunders and Nathan's shop where I had my hair cut and purchased my cigarettes…”

Martin had both male and female friends and enjoyed acting the part of a young man- even taking girls to the theatre:

“I had been in Fremantle some little time, and through having some meals at the Oakland’s Cafe I made the acquaintance of Mrs Bowen and her daughters, Doris and Ida, and their friend Florrie, and on one occasion was permitted to have the privilege of taking them to the theatre in Perth… to see ’Married to the Wrong Man’. I remember I was quite a proper cavalier, finding seats beforehand, so that my party might sail in majestically to their places and of course, travelling first class by train. I also bought the ladies flowers and chocolates and dressed with great care, wearing a dress shirt and white cravat…. All these pseudo-male foibles made visible inroads into my capital, but it was no new occupation to me to gratify my whims in this direction.”

Martin also took his suits to the local Chinese laundryman, Hong War (Wah). When he found the clothes had stains on them and Hong Wah refused to give him his money back- Martin returned to Hong War's shop at the corner of Pakenham and Bannister streets, and had a heated argument over the counter. Finally Wah ordered Martin off the premises, but “as a British soldier boy should do with a Chinkee I told him I should go when it pleased me, also that I was strongly tempted to punch his head.”

Despite his confidence however, Martin was still very guarded; He gave this example:

“Very shortly after I came to Fremantle I chanced to take a walk down the pier. As I sauntered slowly along I was alternately looking round me and making notes in my diary, I noticed a lady and gentleman with two children on the pier, evidently fishing. The gentleman seemed to be very much interested in my doings, and he got up and walked near me. I think it was with a view to seeing what I was doing with my book. As he approached me however, I closed it up. Perhaps he thinks I am some spy taking a sketch of the forts and harbour, I said to myself. He certainly appeared to regard me with suspicion. Subsequently I learned that this gentleman was Signor Pietro Porcelli, the well known sculptor, and that I had misconstrued a mere inquisitiveness concerning one whom he believed to be a fellow artist into the espionage notions. 

Martin next attempted to start his own business- an ‘art studio’, renting a shop at 45 High Street (now 33 High St), between the Orient and P&0 Hotels. 

“I said to myself there are, apparently artists in Fremantle. Martin Able will become an artist. My first step was to order from the firm Sands and McDougall some six pounds' worth of postcards to my own design. A very disastrous step it proved, too as I waited in vain for my cards.” 

Martin became friends with local artist and illustrator Hal Warwick, and started to produce hand-painted postcards under the name ‘Val Able’.

He was also commissioned to produce the illustration for a poster for Mr E. W. Du Rieu, Manager of Seppelt & Sons of Packenham St, who were having a barrel rolling fund-raising competition (see image). (reference)

Two more artists have taken up their habitations at the Port, the latest business opponent of Hal Warwick being one Gordon Clifton, who has a shop in High street adjoining the 'Daily News’ office. The third of the pen and pencil brigade is an aesthetic youth named Able, who hangs out his shingle on the opposite side of the road. The fact that this little Port can run three artists and a champion sculptor lends an air of 'culchaw' to the place hitherto undreamt of. (reference)

Despite this mention in the local press and some success, it soon became clear, that being an artist was an unprofitable vocation:  

“I could not turn back; my funds were at an end, and starvation stared me in the face… Although as a boy it would naturally be supposed I should be likely to be more fortunate than a girl, I do not think I should like to be even a real boy under such circumstances again. It is the utterly helpless feeling when there is no work which hurts most…”

Martin sold off the furniture he had bought for the studio and went to live in Perth, where he worked for a few days as an errand boy for A. J. Shackell and Co. Tailors and Mercers, Barrack-street Perth. Finally he found a good position as a Clerk at the Alexandra Tea Rooms in West Perth, for W. W. Berry.

“As you can imagine by this time I was beginning to think that everybody had forgotten ail about Margaret Bale. It was one night when Jack Maguire and I were having tea at one of the cafes he gave me the inner part of the paper and in looking at it almost the first thing that greeted my eyes was a bold headline "INTO THE NIGHT." Subduing my feelings carefully I scanned the account of the mysterious disappearance of Miss Margaret Bale…”

On May 14, 1910 Margaret’s mother had passed away and the police were trying to find her. On 31 July they printed an article in the Sunday Times- Into the Night- A Girl’s Disappearance- showing her photograph as a woman. She was described as slim, slightly over five ft in height,  with a small bust.

A Miss Meadley, employed at Messrs Saunders and Nathan’s Tobacco Shop, in Fremantle, recognised something in the photograph. She cut the picture out of the paper, encircled the head and neck with a piece of paper, and saw a likeness to Martin, who she remembered. She then communicated her impressions to the authorities.

1 August 1910 Looking for Martin, a Detective Dempsey drew a series of blanks at the Port. Someone suggested he ring the Alexandra Tea Rooms, because they took on casual labourers. When Dempsey rang the office in West Perth, Martin Able answered the phone. Dempsey soon arrived at the Tea Rooms:

''It is no use playing this game anymore," he remarked, "You are Margaret Bale." Yes I am, I answered in a defiant way. You need not publish the fact abroad, as I do not care about it. What do you want?” 

Dempsey took ‘Martin’ immediately to the CID Perth office of Inspector Connell, where she was told that she would not be charged if she agreed to never masquerade in the apparel of a man again. Margaret agreed. (reference)

7 August 1910 well known ‘bush poet’ and journalist ‘Dryblower’; Edwin Greenslade Murphy (1866-1939) became interested in Margaret’s story, pursued her for an interview, and wrote several long (and embellished) articles about her adventures.

Murphy had just settled in Perth to work at the Sunday Times. He was 44 years old, married but did not live with his wife- rather stayed at a room in Canterbury Court Building across the road from the Sunday Times office. Murphy was quick to comment on anything politically controversial and or anyone who was hypocritical, self seeking or (in his view) not doing the job they were paid to do, in particular politicians and senior public officials. Despite not liking suffragettes, he enjoyed Margaret’s pluck and made fun of others discomfit with her adventure. For instance he wrote a poem about Fremantle tailor Frank Fontaine, describing Martin being fitted for a suit of clothes at his shop without being discovered. (reference) Interestingly in January 1911 Murphy was rumoured to have had an affair with an eighteen-year-old flapper named Effie Fellows, later renowned as a male impersonator. (reference)

Margaret/Martin’s story made papers worldwide- several London papers republished the photos and much of the material first published by Dryblower, in The Sunday Times.

7 Aug 1910 “Well, well! Wonders will never cease! The "aesthetic young man" named Able I referred to some weeks ago- he who had a painting studio in High-street- turns out to be a charming young woman named Bale!… A paragraph I wrote referring to "Mr. Able" as an "aesthetic youth" was cut out of the "Times" and pasted in the window of the studio by the budding artist, who thought the reference to himself (or herself) a great joke. So it was. And the joke was on all of US. (reference)

Margaret resumed wearing women’s clothes and returned to England. In April 1911 she was living with her father at 11 Gray Road, Colchester, Essex, and working as an ‘instructress of languages'. She was 30.

Seven months later, however, in November 1911, Margaret returned to Fremantle, most likely with the aim of capitalising on her own story, having the opportunity to tell it herself. (reference) The Sunday Times, however commented sarcastically:

Margaret professes to be highly indignant at some of the newspapers making ‘copy’ out of her- but the astute Margaret knows that the easiest way to obtain publicity is to make a loud protest against being dragged into the limelight. (reference)

From Friday 8 Dec 1911, Margaret’s serialised story was printed on the front page of the Golden Gate, every week -until Friday 8 March 1912. Hal Warwick did the illustrations for the heading graphic and her serialised narrative, was written by ‘Emerson Korbow’; an anagram of Arthur Emerson Borkwood (1869- 1926).

Arthur Emerson Borkwood (1869- 1926) was a complex character with a shady past. He married his first wife Harriet, in 1892 in Sydney. In 1896 they arrived in WA and lived in Jarradale, where, in 1901 Borkwood lost his position due to drink. After a job as an editor of the Southern Cross he moved to Collie to edit the Collie Miner, in 1905. It wasn’t a happy marriage, Borkwood sent money irregularly, and took up with another woman in Collie. In September 1908 Borkwood became Mayor of the Collie Municipal Council and deserted his wife. In October 1909 Borkwood lost his job with the Collie Miner due to negligence, his home (the office), and only after being forced to resign- his position as Mayor. (reference) In November 1909 Borkwood was charged with Larceny and sentenced to three months in Bunbury gaol. (reference).

He was released in April 1910 and went to work for the Bunbury Herald, much to the scathing opinion of his old workmates at the Collie Miner:

Arthur Emerson Borkwood, after his three months' incarceration in the Bunbury gaol for overhelping himself to the cash of Reading & Sons… and beyond the shadow of doubt- the sulky, swell-suited swagger individual who is to be seen mooning moodily along Throssell street thoroughfare at intervals daily, and at night when only a few remaining cronies are game to be seen with him, is the Herald's Collie correspondent.” (reference)

In July 1911 Borkwood re-emerged in Fremantle, as editor of the The Golden Gate, an independent newspaper (20 pages), printed at 39 Packenham St, Fremantle (now 9 Packenham) and illustrated by Hal Warwick, ‘Martins’, artist friend.

On 14 November 1911 Borkwood was divorced by his first wife on grounds of adultery and desertion. (reference)

On 16 June 1912 Margaret Bale left Fremantle for South Australia and on 25 June 1912 she married Arthur Emerson Borkwood in Port Adelaide.

On 3 December 1912 Margaret’s first son Lionel Arthur was born in Adelaide, South Australia (He died in Busselton, WA in 1988)

The Golden Gate closed in August 1912.

In 1913 Margaret’s father passed away and she and Arthur returned to Bristol, Gloucestershire, where they had two more sons: Basil Ambrose (1914-2006) and Edwin Harvey (1916).

In 1926 Arthur Emerson Borkwood passed away in Bristol, Gloucestershire, at the age of 57.

Margaret passed away on 29 July 1952 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, at the age of 71 

In 2015 Jes Fernie wrote about the limited parameters of what it is to be female for an article in the Guardian:

“I recently found out from a relative in Australia that, at the age of 25, my great aunt dug a hole on Cottesloe Beach, Perth, buried her dress in the sand, and assumed the identity of a man. She changed her name from Margaret Bale to Martin Able and took a series of men’s jobs… What would Margaret/Martin make of my dalliance with gender bending? And how much has changed since she buried those clothes?” (Jes Fernie, Why being 6ft 2 in tall makes it hard to be a woman, The Guardian, 26 Dec, 2015 )

Researched and written by Jo Darbyshire, April 2022

With thanks to Aidan Kelly for his contribution to past research and enthusiasm for this story.

All Margaret’s quotes are from the serialised story printed in the Golden Gate (Fremantle, WA: 1911 - 1912), by ‘Emerson Korbow’ ( on the front page) from first instalment Friday 8 Dec 1911, every week until Friday 8 March 1912.