Travel Australia

Classic Railway Stations: Collie, Western Australia

The Collie Historical Rail Precinct includes numerous structures including a locomotive Roundhouse, Old Goods Shed, Bill Weir Rolling Stock Shed and Railway Footbridge. The original Goods Shed, designed by C.Y. O’Connor and built in 1898 now houses an interpretive display and echoes to the sound of regular Sunday markets. Next door is the Bill Weir Rolling Stock shed where the restoration of rolling stock takes place. Items on display include a First Class Sleeping Coach and a variety of wagons, coal trucks, engines, and more.


Bill Weir Rolling Stock Shed

The restored Railway Footbridge, originally built in 1912, spans 120 metres over the railway line and links the historical rail precinct to the Collie Railway Station. The original station was demolished in the 1970s. It was rebuilt, opening in 2004 and now houses a cafe, museum and model railway. The building displays information on the history of the railways which was a vital part in the development of Collie.


Collie Historical Rail Precinct model railway

Rail enthusiasts can view the three restored steam locomotives housed next to the Collie Visitor Centre on Throssell Street. The collection comprises V Class, W Class and FS class locomotives.

The significant role rail played in the emergence of Collie as a source of coal for Western Australia is highlighted by the infrastructure that remains in the town of Collie, with the Collie Railway Roundhouse and Turntable and the Railway Goods Shed and Footbridge being key components. Collie Coal was discovered in 1883 but was not immediately exploited because of the dominance of the eastern states coalfields and the lack of a railway to transport the coal from Collie to Bunbury. The Collie townsite was declared in 1896.



The South West railway line was completed in 1893 and the line from Brunswick to Collie in 1898. Access to rail transport launched Collie and the coal industry on a sound basis and boosted settlement in the district. The important role that the engineer-in-chief and acting general manager of railways in Western Australia, Charles Yelverton (CY) O’Connor played in establishing the Collie coalfields is often overlooked. He pushed hard for the building of the line from Brunswick to Collie and argued convincingly for the use of local coal so that WA would be independent of the unreliable Eastern States coal.


Collie Roundhouse turntable

The Roundhouse is a post war building which housed 14 steam locomotives. The building was constructed in 1920 and ceased operation around 1968. It is thought to be the only remaining Roundhouse in the State. From the 1920’s Collie had the biggest marshalling yards outside of Fremantle. The remnants of its twelve lines can be seen in the Railway Precinct. The place has been assessed by the National Trust of Western Australia and is included on the State Register of Heritage Places.

The off-form concrete walls, the concrete columns and precast concrete beams combine to produce a dramatic architectural character particularly when viewed from inside where light enters from the glazed roof areas and plays on the various angles of the concrete surfaces. The method of housing the locomotives can easily be appreciated and is a demonstration of a past industrial usage.

The town of Collie is 190km south of Perth and 55km east of Bunbury.