Mr Hill, who is also known as 'King of the Courtrooms', acquired 3,737,500 shares in Arc Energy NL at an average of 47 cents per share.

The purchase was made in conjunction with Carpenter Pacific Resources NL, which acquired the same number of shares in Arc at the same price. The combined holding in Arc represents 4.65% of that company's share capital.

Carpenter is Westgold's 50/50 joint venture partner in Delta Oilfield Developments Ltd, which was recently formed as an alliance between both companies.

"Delta believes that this strategic investment will give both companies good exposure to the highly prospective onshore and offshore North Perth Basin," Arc said in a statement to the exchange.

Arc owns 100% of the producing Dongara Gas Field and 50% of the Hovea Oil & Gas Development, as well as 7.5% of the Cliff Head Oil Development.