The country surrounding Collinsville was settled much earlier than the town itself, established as grazing land in the 1800s. Mt Coolon, 120 kms south-west of Collinsville, was well known as a gold mining town and featured shops, a hotel and picture theatre during it’s hay day. Closer to Collinsville, the Bowen River Hotel served as an important stop on the stock route heading to the coast.
