It is widely believed that coal was discovered in Collie by a stockman, George Marsh. Marsh was shepherding for Mr Arthur Perren who had a pastoral lease on the Collie River. In 1883 Marsh collected some dark rocks from the river’s edge and placed them on either side of his campfire. To his amazement the “rocks” caught alight.
Several years passed before a shaft was sunk alongside the river. At a depth of about seven feet coal was extracted, and so began the coal mining industry in Collie.
The first coal-fired power station was built in Collie in 1931. Collie supplies much of the South of Western Australia with electricity via Muja Power Station, which was officially opened in April 1966 and the newer Collie Power Station that commenced operations in May 1999. Bluewaters Power Station is a privately operated station supplying power to the south west interconnected grid.
Griffin Coal and Wesfarmers Premier Coal are the two coal production companies in Collie. Underground mining ceased in 1994; all mining is now by the open cut method, using state of the art machinery. Mined areas are now rehabilitated and re-vegetated. Areas such as Cardiff, Collie Burn and Shotts were built around the early underground mines, with these small towns having vibrant communities, schools, etc. Like the old timber mills, most of these towns are now either abandoned or are home to those looking for a quiet rural lifestyle.