My Town

The old Electric Shovel at the mine lookout

Collie is a town of around 7000 people with a history in Coal Mining and Power Generation dating back to circa 1890’s for coal mining and the opening of the first coal fired power station in 1931. Coal mining and power generation are still dominant forces in Collie’s economy but with transition to “green” power accelerating at unprecedented levels there will be a needed shift in focus for the years ahead. 

Our place - plenty of room for vans

We moved to our “new” (circa 1955) house in Collie in February 2017 and have slowly become locals meeting lots of great people and joining some of the community organisations. Linda has been an active supporter of the RSL (volunteer bar person before her hip got worse), Vinnies (volunteer staff on Wednesdays and Thursdays), and a significant financial supporter of the Collie Football Club Bingo night 😊. Likewise, I have been providing some support to the RSL (sampling Linda’s bar goods), learnt the manly art of “wooding” out in the jarrah forests, and acquired skills in the cementing, tiling, painting, brick laying, and general renovating areas - all of which were required to make a 1955 house and yard look a little more presentable. 

Hard work in the coal  mines

Collie is a small town but is packed with facilities and services - Coles, Wollies, hardware shops, numerous pubs and bottle shops, small restaurants and coffee shops, more churches than you can poke a sinner at, lawn bowling club, swimming pool, library, mountain bike trails, sections of the famous Bibbulmum Track, numerous lakes, dams and camping grounds, RSL, multiple primary and secondary schools, doctors surgeries, modern hospital, footy and sporting clubs, speedway, motorplex, trotting club, race course, swimming holes in the river and a lot lot more. Only thing we are missing is Bunnings – but that’s only 40 kilometers “down the hill” In Bunbury and a good excuse for a day out. 

Recently a Collie Mural Trail was established which is an extensive outdoor art gallery with 40 mural sites around town and the surrounding district https://www.colliemuraltrail.com/ . This was my incentive to do a quick blog and video around my hometown. I haven’t covered all the Murals so come and have a look next time you are this way! Short video is HERE