Discover Collie

In Collie, large-scale murals tell stories of the history of the Collie River Valley, while river trails and railway heritage reveal other sides of the town. The Collie Mural Trail connects Wellington Dam with the town centre, forming an extensive open-air gallery. Its works are by more than 30 Australian artists, including many from Collie. The murals tell stories about the living cultural heritage of the Collie River Valley—an unusual way to experience the region that brings art and local history together.

Traces of mining and railways

Collie’s connection to coal mining can also be explored at several sites. The Railway Goods Shed & Footbridge is associated with Collie’s development as Western Australia’s only coal-mining centre. The Replica Underground Coal Mine Experience at the Collie Visitor Centre conveys what it was like to work underground in the 1950s. The Coalfields Museum places the town’s history in the setting of historic Road Board offices from 1900 and 1930. Collie Railway Station houses the Collie Railway Museum; the station also has a miniature train display that appeals to families and train enthusiasts. The golden age of steam comes to life at the Collie Rail Heritage Precinct in the town centre.

These sites offer different ways to explore: murals tell of the valley’s cultural heritage, while railway and mining sites highlight themes from the town’s history. If you’re travelling with children, you can also include the miniature trains in your explorations. When choosing a holiday rental in Collie, the town’s character can be a helpful guide if you’re interested in culture, railways or mining history.

River trail or mountain bike track

The Collie River Trail is an easy 9 km trail. It starts at Minninup Pool and ends at Telfer Pool. For a shorter route, the first 6 km from Minninup Pool to Soldiers Park are paved and suitable for prams and wheelchairs. This lets you choose a section to suit your preferred distance without confusing the two figures: the paved section covers the first 6 km, while the full trail is 9 km long. Picnic facilities and toilets are available at Minninup Pool, Fred Scharf Lions Memorial Park and Soldiers Park.

For mountain biking, the Wambenger Trails project in Collie includes 120 km of mountain bike trails. Rays Trail is a challenging, winding cross-country mountain bike trail on the outskirts of Collie. There are different types of trails to consider: the easy river trail and mountain bike routes, including one explicitly described as challenging. When planning your trip, you can consider which focus better suits your family and how much time you’d like to spend on each activity.

Collie as a base

Collie is the service centre for its trails and offers accommodation, services and related amenities. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in town, you’ll be choosing a place whose attractions include river trails, public art, and industrial and railway history. The Collie Visitor Centre is 350 metres from the town centre. Tour, train and bus bookings are available there, including bookings for TransWA services. This information can be helpful when planning your activities and travel arrangements.

Other places: Herron, Swanbourne, Kalgan, Forest Grove, Point Samson, Denbarker, Wellard, Kings Park.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.