Hardman was chosen by the Colonial Office for the temporary post of government geologist in Western Australia. He arrived at Perth in March 1883, when colonists were greatly interested in the possibility of finding an economic goldfield. In 1872 the government had offered a reward of 5000 for the discovery of the colony's first workable goldfield, and in November 1882 a prospecting party led by Philip Saunders had reported showings of gold from the headwaters of the Ord River in the East Kimberley. Saunders had expressed the opinion that payable gold would occur in the vicinity, and as a result he had been approached to lead a government expedition to prospect the area thoroughly. However, on Hardman's arrival in Perth it was decided that he would be better qualified than Saunders to investigate the gold prospects. Hardman was therefore sent to the Kimberley as a member of survey parties in 1883 and 1884. His published reports and maps of these expeditions are the first geological accounts of the district.
In the 1884 expedition Hardman found good showings of alluvial gold in several watercourses and concluded that there was a 'great probability of payable gold being obtained in this part of the Kimberley'. His report stimulated great interest, and several prospecting parties set out in 1885. Payable gold was found at Hall's Creek on 14 July 1885 by Charles Hall, John Slattery and their party, in the same general area where Saunders and Hardman had reported finding gold showings.
In the 1884 expedition Hardman found good showings of alluvial gold in several watercourses and concluded that there was a 'great probability of payable gold being obtained in this part of the Kimberley'. His report stimulated great interest, and several prospecting parties set out in 1885. Payable gold was found at Hall's Creek on 14 July 1885 by Charles Hall, John Slattery and their party, in the same general area where Saunders and Hardman had reported finding gold showings.
