Lithgow, New South Wales

06. Jul, 2011

Find more info here on Australian Travel

Lithgow

Blast Furnace Park, Lithgow

Is a city situated in New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow’s Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales. Lithgow is located on the Great Western Highway, about 150 km (93 mi) or two hours drive west of Sydney, or via the old mountain route, Bells Line of Road, from Windsor. Lithgow is surrounded by a varied landscape which includes national parks, one of which, the Blue Mountains National Park, is a World Heritage Area. The Wollemi National Park is home to the Jurassic-age tree the Wollemi Pine, which was found growing in a remote canyon in the park.

Location

The city sits on the western edge of the sandstone country of the Blue Mountains and is usually considered the first true country town west of Sydney. Immediate surrounding areas include the old mining hamlet of Vale of Clywydd and Oakey Park, a famous iron and steel village, of which fiery night scenes have been depicted in many paintings, as well as large areas of bush and state forest. The next city to the West is Bathurst, 60 km (37 mi) away. Lithgow is in the NSW State electorate of Bathurst, while federally it is part of electorate of Calare. Lithgow benefits from being the western terminus for the electric section of the Main Western railway line from Sydney, and of CityRail’s intercity Blue Mountains railway line. Lithgow is home to the iconic zig-zag railway.

History

Lithgow at dusk

The mountainous terrain of the Blue Mountains and the expense of building long tunnels required the construction of the Zig Zag Railway between 1866 and 1869. The line was opened as far as Bowenfels, just to the west, in 1869, but Lithgow station was not opened until 1877. Although it was superseded in 1910 by more modern engineering methods, including ten tunnels, the Zig Zag remains a popular tourist attraction. The town is the centre of a coal mining district and there are two coal-powered power stations nearby. It is the site of Australia’s first commercially-viable steel mill, the ruins of which are open for inspection at “Blast Furnace Park”. Because of the abundance of coal and relative proximity to Sydney, Lithgow is the site of one of the largest power stations in NSW, the Mount Piper and Wallerawang Power Station. It is operated by Delta Electricity.

Lithgow has many heritage sites. The following are listed on the Register of the National Estate:

Former Station Master’s Residence (now Caddie’s Restaurant), a sandstone cottage designed by John Clifton and built in 1869
Zig Zag Railway, designed by John Whitton, built by Patrick Higgins
Ironworks Blast Furnace, Eskbank, 1875 to 1930
Eskbank House, Bennett Street, built by Thomas Brown in 1842
Lithgow Valley Pottery Site Kiln, 1875 to 1908
Lithgow Court House, corner Bridge and Mort Streets, a brick building in the Arts and Crafts style
De La Salle Cottage (formerly Cooerwull Academy), Rabaul Street, a stone building in the Victorian Gothic Revival style, built circa 1882
Methven, Lidsdale Road, a sandstone house built by Andrew Brown in the 1870s

St Helens, Lithgow

Lithgow was also the location of an alleged assassination attempt on the life of Queen Elizabeth II in 1970.

Electronic media in Lithgow is represented by public broadcasters ABC and SBS, and commercial networks Prime7, WIN and Southern Cross Ten with digital channels 7TWO, 7mate, GEM, GO!, One HD and Eleven.

Tourist attractions in Lithgow

Lithgow is adjacent to a number of national parks and other attractions. Places to visit include the Zig Zag Railway, Glow Worm Tunnel, Secret Creek Sanctuary, Newnes in the Wolgan Valley and Glen Davis in the Capertee Valley, the second largest canyon in the world. Other places include the Hartley Historic Site, Small Arms Factory Museum, State Mine Heritage Park and the Eskbank House Museum. Lithgow is also close to Jenolan Caves, which are a World Heritage Area and lie to the south of Lithgow. By far the biggest, in terms of visitors, tourist attraction in Lithgow is the Lithgow Ironfest, an annual cultural heritage event that attracts over 10,000 visitors a year.Ironfest hosts the annual St George’s Day Jousting Tournament which involves contestants from all around the World. Another major part of Ironfest is the colonial battle re-enactment, called the ‘Battle of Lithgow’ which involves over 120 participants, kitted out in fully authentic 19th century apparel, and involving cavalry, infantry and artillery.

Methven, Lithgow

As well as these two major historical re-enactment events Ironfest comprises historical & auto displays, blacksmith demonstrations, art exhibitions, live music and performance, art making workshops & demonstrations, and much more. (For more info visit www.ironfest.com.au). The Lithgow Greyhound Racing Club is also a popular tourist attraction for sports enthusiasts with Lithgow Workers Club sponsoring the ($5000 to the winner) Lithgow Golden Muzzle every summer. Another feature race of interest at Lithgow is the Quickstitch Cup every spring, which honours a dog who came out of retirement in 1982 at the age of five years and two months to break the 706m track record in winning the John Redden Trophy. Other dogs in the field that day were almost two years younger than Quickstitch, owned and trained by George and Noeline Costandis, of Londonderry. The race is sponsored by Media Director of St George Marketing & Public Relations, Reagan Murphy, who was the handler of Quickstitch, Odious, Ungwilla Lad, General Jeff and He’s Some Boy in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The iron and steel industry at Lithgow

In 1848, iron smelting began in Mittagong, Australia. It proved unprofitable for the remainder of the 19th century. This situation remained until the early 20th century when no iron ore was being smelted. The only iron being cast was by William Sandford in Lithgow. His works were bought by G.&C. Hoskins in 1907, who had previously been making iron pipes in Sydney. The Lithgow works acquired a reputation for industrial disputes.

Hartley Historic Site

The need for a police centre in the Hartley Valley led to the construction of the Hartley Court House in 1837. Over the next 50 years a bustling village grew around the court house. The area was the judicial and administrative centre, with churches and accommodation, a post office and staging facilities. It served both travellers and settlers west of the Blue Mountains. In 1887 the village was surpassed by the Great Western Railway, resulting in stagnation and decline. In 1972 the site was declared as an historic site under the Management of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Today, the village comprises 17 buildings of historical significance (two of which are privately owned). The village remains a fine example of a small 19th century settlement. It is free entry to visit the Information Centre or explore the many buildings and gardens. Historic Buildings – include Old Trahlee (1840), Post Office (1846), St. Bernard’s Presbytery and St. Bernard’s Church (1842) still operating as a Catholic church, Shamrock Inn Cottage (1841) and the Court House (1837).

Public Holiday: Closed Christmas day. Court house tours run daily at 10.00 a.m., 11.00 a.m., 12.00 noon, 2.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. Opening time is 10:00am. Closing time is 16:30pm.

Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum

Guide dogs are permitted, staff assistance available, no wheelchair access into the building and no disabled toilet facilities.

Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum

In 1906 the Australian Government decided that Australia could no longer rely upon Britain for her defence needs, and decided to build a factory for the manufacture of arms. The Lithgow Small Arms Factory was Australia’s first high precision mass production facility and has an historic association with the inaugural Australian Federal government of 1901. This museum situated in the grounds of the Lithgow Small Arms Factory celebrates the rich history of the Factory and its people. Over the years of its operation the LSAF accumulated a large collection of military small arms and Factory commercial production for technical appraisal. As a result the museum contains one of the most comprehensive firearms collections in the Southern Hemisphere.

In an attempt to sustain the maximum number of employees during the economic recession that followed World War I LSAF entered the commercial marketplace. Numerous commercial products were manufactured until the commencement of the hostilities of World War II. The Factory played a significant role in saving the floundering Australian wool growing Industry during the 1930′s by manufacturing parts for shearing handsets, replacing those purchased from England at too high a price. The Lithgow Small Arms Factory became an Australian industrial and rural Icon. In August 2007 a magnificent handgun collection containing some 1300 items was donated to the Museum by

Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park and Railway

Queensland collector Ron Hayes. This collection is now on show in a new display area upstairs and contains some very rare pieces.

Public Holiday: 10.00am – 4.00pm Public Holidays. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday 9.30am – 2.30pm Tuesday and Thursday. 10.00am – 4.00pm Saturday, Sunday and School Holidays. Access to all downstairs areas and toilet facilities. No disabled access to new display area upstairs yet.

Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park and Railway

An open air museum consisting of a former colliery site and 3 kilometres of rail line, The State Mine Heritage Park and Railway offers mine museum guided tours, coal mining displays, picnic areas and Heritage rolling stock and machinery. Here the displays relate to mining history, steam power and the town’s rail heritage. There are picnic areas at the powder magazines, nature trails, lovely scenery plus flora and birdlife.

Newnes Plateau

Open 10am to 4pm weekends, school holidays, public holidays or by arrangement. Closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Disabled access to level entrance of museum and toilet facilities.

Newnes Plateau

Newnes State Forest is located on Newnes Plateau and contains Pine Plantation of Radiator Pine, Natural Forest and Sandstone Escarpments. Provides access to Glow Worm Tunnels and Wollemi National Park. Bungleboorie Picnic Area provides a peaceful rest stop in Newnes State Forest. (The town of Newnes is located in the Wolgan Valley but there is no vehicular access from the Glow Worm Tunnel area). The shale seam in the Wolgan Valley was discovered about 1868 and was opened by Campbell Mitchell in 1873. Commercial mining did not begin until 1903, with the shale being brought out by road. In 1905 the Commonwealth Oil Corporation took over the operation, the township being named after Sir George Newnes, one of the company’s directors. Access to Newnes township from Newnes Plateau is by 4WD via the Black Fellows Hands fire trail or by bush walking only via the Glow Worm Tunnel. For a circular day walk, go through the Glow Worm Tunnel, then

Newnes Shale Oil Ruins

walk along the Wolgan Valley railway only as far as the old coach road and return via this and the Pagoda Track, a total distance of 7.5 kilometres.

Newnes Shale Oil Ruins

At the end of Wolgan Valley lies a reminder of the shale oil industry. The township and shale oil mining complex was established in 1906. The Newnes Oil Shale Mine produced low grade oil. Set within beautiful mountain scenery, a collection of shanties, huts and buildings for the mining process were built. Today the ruins of the site are all that remains Operational costs and the availability of lower priced crude oil finally closed the works in 1932. The former hotel (now Newnes Kiosk) is the only reminder of a thriving community. To gain access to Newnes, turn right off the Mudgee Road at Lidsdale and continue past Angus Place Colliery.

A brief stop at the top of the Wolgan Gap affords excellent views of Wolgan Valley and the spectacular sandstone escarpments. Follow the road for a further 24 kilometres through to the floor of the Valley, where there are many natural picnic areas alongside the Wolgan River. To reach the ruins of the works, cross the river at the ford by foot or 4WD downstream from the hotel and follow the well-defined path which was the original route of the railway line.

Wollemi National Park

Wollemi National Park is NSW’s largest wilderness area, situated on 492 220ha. A spectacular maze of canyons, cliffs and undisturbed forest. Descend to the Colo River on Bob Turners Track and enjoy the beaches in one of the State’s longest and most scenic gorges. Interesting ruins at Newnes and a glowworm filled railway tunnel nearby. Camp at Dunns Swamp, Wheeney Creek or Newnes. Possibly the most important aspect of Wollemi National Park is that it protects, permanently, the largest remaining forested wilderness in NSW, including the Colo-Capertee river system, used extensively with the surrounding bushland for hardy recreation activities.

The Colo River and its gorge is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular in Australia. Activities in the park include bushwalking, canoeing, liloing, bushcamping.Dunnes Swamp is one of the best camping grounds in the park providing toilets and firewood, no showers though. Located 100 kilometres north-west of Sydney. Dunnes Swamp via Rylstone, Newnes north-west of Lithgow; Bob Turners Track starts off Putty Road north of Colo Heights. There are 2 major area of Wollemi National Park being Merriwa and Lithgow entrances into the park. Hotel/Motel accommodation can be found at Glen Davis, Rylstone, Singleton, Denman, Muswellbrook and Wilberforce.