Place Type
Population - Town
Location
155.06kms South of Perth
Address & Contact
Montgomery St
Allanson WA 6225
Phone: (08) 9734 9000
Email: https://www.collie.wa.gov.au/contact-us/
Web: https://www.collie.wa.gov.au
Information
Allanson is a town on the banks of the Collie River in the South West region of Western Australia just west of Collie. The Coalfields Highway passes through the town.
Land was originally set aside for coal miners so that they could live close to the mines in 1898. A railway station named West Collie opened in the same year. The original townsite, also called West Collie, was gazetted in 1906. The original townsite was later discovered to be placed over commercially viable coal seams so a new townsite was founded in 1911 located a short distance from the original.
The new town was gazetted in 1912 and changed its name in 1916 to Allanson. The town was named after an MLA for the seat of Collie, Arthur Alan Wilson, who was in office from 1908 to 1947.
The Black Diamond Lake was formed when pits were filled in and allowed to fill with water. The lake on some days is an intense azure blue colour. Black Diamond Lake is locally popular for recreation. The site had seen many an idyllic summer's day of families enjoying camping, marroning, swimming, and kids jumping off the cliffs bordering the lake.
In 2016, the lake became part of a pilot programme to rehabilitate and make the lake safe. The cliffs are due to be abolished, possible restricted access, warning signs etc.
