COLLIE - POPULATION: 9,056

FRI 22 - SAT 23.11.2013: Left Peel Shire (yes, Peel Shire), and headed for Route 107 a self guided tour from the Indian Ocean and the South West Highway through Collie, Darkan, Arthur River, Wagin, Dumbleyung, Kukerin, Lake Grace, Newdegate and Lake King. It is a 390 km drive that links the tall timbers of the Indian Ocean hinterland to the horizons of the outback and numerous lakes and waterways.
Collie is mainly known as a coal-producing centre, but also offers industrial, agricultural and aquaculture tourism industries. The town is named after the river on which it is situated. James Stirling named the Collie River, which in turn is named after Dr Alexander Collie. He and William Preston were the first Europeans to explore the area in 1829. Coal was discovered in the area by a shepherd named George Marsh in the early 1880s. The coal fields were developed in the late 1890s and the townsite surveyed and gazetted in 1897. Stayed at Stockton Lake - a disused opencut coal mine now filled with water - $7.00 per night.

Encountered a strange precipitation emanating from the sky - asked around and was advised that it was RAIN! Last time we had rain was in June at Narrabri.

STOCKTON LAKE