RCCA Explore Lithgow Visit

Lithgow is the sort of town that you bypass on the way to somewhere else. Last year bushfires got very close to Lithgow, some houses were destroyed, rail transport was disrupted and this caused significant damaged the local economy. So, a visit to Lithgow will be both interesting and beneficial.

The town is the centre of a coal mining district. Lithgow is the site of Australia’s first commercially viable steel mill, the ruins of which are open for inspection at Blast Furnace Park. Due to the abundance of coal and relative proximity to Sydney, in the areas surrounding Lithgow are two of the largest power stations in NSW, the Mount Piper and Wallerawang power stations.

Lithgow Small Arms Factory was Australia’s first high precision mass production facility. Established over 100 years ago, it has produced weapons for Australian forces ever since. Between the wars it produced other commercial items varying from sewing machines to wool shears.

Lithgow also celebrates the “Lithgow Flash” – Marjorie Jackson – who won Olympic and Commonwealth gold medals in the early 1950s. There is a statue in Main Street, at the pedestrian crossing in the middle of town. Look out for it on the way to lunch.

How to get there: Enter Lithgow via Main St, from either end, turn into Ordnance Ave (closer to the Great Western Highway end of Main St) and drive to the end. Park where you can near the Museum. Entry cost is $10 per adult ($7 concession, $5 child). There is plenty of parking outside the Museum and in neighbouring streets.

Further info will be available to those who attend. Please respond with an expression of interest (name and phone number) so that we have enough copies of the info for you all.

If you have any questions please contact Bob on editor@rcca.org.au.

See you there!