Collie River

The beautiful Collie River system is 154 kilometres long and winds through our Region from its source in the Darling Range. It is considered sacred and is a registered mythological site under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.

Launch your boat or kayak at the Eastwell Boat Ramp Precinct and explore this watercourse.

It’s also very popular for fishing. If you don’t have a boat, head to the Old Collie River Timber Jetty, or there are other smaller jetties, including within the Eastwell Boat Ramp Precinct and the Sutton Court Jetty.

Or take a walk along its picturesque shore along the Dandjoo Bilya Trail.

History

Along with the Leschenault Estuary, and Preston and Brunswick rivers, the Collie River is associated with the Waugal/Waygl, which is believed to have created many of the South West rivers and is still present. So no harm befalls those who visit pools or places for swimming or fishing where the Waugal is known to reside, Noongars conduct rituals such as offering articles of food, singing and throwing sand into the water.

The Derbalung, the people of the Estuary, and the lower Collie and Preston Rivers, were the Elaap. The land at the Collie River mouth is referred to as Mardalup (place of many waters). Bila Borrigup is the Noongar name for the Collie River where it meets the Leschenault Estuary.

Before European settlement, the bilya waters around Mardalup were teeming with goodinyal (cobbler fish), which Noongar men would spear at night by the light of campfires.

At European settlement, the river was named after Dr Alexander Collie, a Royal Naval Surgeon, who was sent in 1829 by Governor Stirling on a voyage of exploration to the South West. He was accompanied by Lieut. William Preston and both had rivers named after them in the Leschenault catchment area.