© State of New South Wales through the Parliament of New South Wales
Charles Collins
Date of Birth12 May 1850
Death Date12 April 1898
ParliamentNew South Wales
DesignationMLA Namoi
PartyProtectionist
Term1885 to 1898
BiographyCharles Collins was born in Goulburn to a Jewish family originally from Moravia. He was the older brother of Albert Collins. He started as an apprentice to a local merchant but then moved to Narrabri in North Western NSW. There he prospered eventually owning stores in Narrabri, Walgett, Pilliga and Wee Waa. He became the first mayor of the town of Narrabri before election to the colonial parliament in 1885. He was an avid free trader but otherwise confined himself to issues affecting his electorate. He formed a number of partnerships with other Jewish merchants and is regarded as a pioneer in establishing Jewish owned businesses in rural Australia. Like his brother, he never married and died suddenly of a stroke in 1898 in a Tamworth (NSW) hotel at the age of 47.
