Hugh Annan Corbet was born in East Ballarat, Victoria in 1870. He started out as a junior clerk in the Melbourne branch of the Mint and was first employed at Perth Mint in 1898. During WW1, Major Corbet (88 Perth Infantry) worked with the Intelligence Section of the General Staff in Perth. He moved into the residence attached to the Perth Mint in 1926 and held the position of Deputy Master of the Mint from August 1928 until 31 December 1934. Major Corbet wrote a popular booklet Hints to Prospectors and Owners of Treatment Plants in 1932, at a time when the price of gold had risen and many were seeking it.
