The Koolie has a perplexing and interesting history. All breeds began from many, the Australian Koolie is no different. the Kelpie, Australian Cattle Dog and Stumpy refer to the influence of the Blue Merle in their own breed’s foundations. The Blue Merle and Smooth Coated Collies were British working dogs with < Celtic > origins. They are probably ancestors of all common British based working breeds including Koolies and Border Collies. Many of these dogs arrived in Australia when colonization began. Records show that a Mr. Thomas Simpson Hall from the Hunter Valley imported a pair of smooth coated Collie’s in the 1840’s. Mr. Robert Kaleski in 1911, who was a major force behind the formation of the Australian Cattle Dog, was quoted as saying that "at this time there are many varieties of working dogs. One particular one called the Welsh Heeler or Merle is commonly referred to as the German Koolie." There is also a belief that the German Tiger is the founder of the koolies, In N.S.W a breeder tells of his/her grandfathers mates returning from war and bringing home some Tigers with them and their descendents are still found working cattle and sheep along the N.S.W coast and the Hunter Valley, but until DNA can prove where, when and how our wonderful Koolies came about we will never know for sure. It is my belief that over the years Kelpies, Borders, Heelers and other herding breeds have been mixed in to make that wonderful breed we know as the Australian Koolie
