Alexander Collie

Dr Alexander Collie (2 June 1793 – 8 November 1835) was a Scottish surgeon and botanist who journeyed to Western Australia in 1829, where he was an explorer and Colonial Surgeon.

Collie was born in Insch in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 2 June 1793 to Alexander and Christina Collie (née Leslie). The youngest of three sons, Collieiu

He sailed on the frigate Doris to Tenerife, China and the East Indies, before returning to Europe to study botany, mineralogy and chemistry. In 1824 he was a surgeon on board the HMS Blossom and travelled to Africa, Brazil, Chile, the Sandwich Islands, California, Kamchatka Peninsula, Taiwan and Mexico.

Collie was ship's surgeon on the HMS Sulphur. This was part of the expeditionary group, including the barque Parmelia, which set out from Portsmouth in February 1829 to found the colony of Western Australia. They arrived at Rottnest Island on 3 June 1829. While at sea on 16 April 1829 Collie assisted with the birth of Frederick Henry Stirling son of Lieutenant-Governor (Sir) James Stirling and his wife Ellen.

Upon arriving at Rottnest Island in June 1829, Collie worked in a hospital tent on Garden Island and studied botany in his free time. He received 1,500 acres (610 ha) of land on the banks of the Swan River.

He and Lieutenant Preston explored the south west of Western Australia, discovering two rivers that Lieutenant Governor Stirling named after them: Collie River and Preston River. In 1830 he investigated the conditions on the Peel estate. He reported that the estate's manager, Thomas Peel, was incompetent, which led to government assistance for the settlers.

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