History & Heritage

Blast Furnace Park & Lake Pillans Wetlands
Inch Street, Lithgow
Hours: open daily
In 1906, construction of the Blast Furnace commenced. From 1906 to 1928, it was to become the sole producer of iron in Australia. Today, only the ruins of the site remain.  A walkway extends over the wetlands

Eskbank House & Museum
Cnr Bennet and Inch Streets Lithgow 2790
Tel: 6351 3557
Email: eskbank@lithgow.com
Web: www.eskbank.lithgow.com
Built c.1841, this historic estate is now a vibrant cultural centre that illuminates the region’s past and celebrates the present through collections and programs that highlight the heritage, people and events that shaped the region.
Once owned by important Industrialists Thomas Brown, James Rutherford, William Sandford and the Hoskins brothers, the estate was opened as a public museum in 1966. Today, visitors can relax in the gardens, explore the largest collection of Lithgow Pottery, and discover local history with a tour guide.
Open Wed to Sun 10am – 4pm
Facebook: @eskbankhousemuseum

Eskbank Rail Heritage Centre
PO Box 350 Lithgow
Tel: 6352 2513
Email: inquiries@eskbankrailheritage.com.au
Web: www.eskbankrailheritage.com.au
Contact Michael Wilson 0427 455 580
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Friends of Wolgan Valley Wilderness Rail Trail Ltd
PO Box 350 Lithgow
Tel: 6352 2513; 0427 455 580
Email: inquiries@coclimited.com.au
Web: www.coclimited.com.au
Contact: Michael Wilson
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Glen Davis Oil Shale Ruins Tour
The Poplars Glen Davis 2846
Tel: 6379 7380
Email: rickstalex@gmail.com
Hours: Tours depart every Saturday at 2pm from the front gates at The Poplars except during daylight savings times when the tour is at 5pm to avoid the heat. Enjoy a historical tour of one of the most significant oil shale ruins in the Southern Hemisphere at Glen Davis. NB: Dress for the weather, and please wear covered shoes.

Hartley Historic Site – NPWS
51 Old Great Western Highway
Farmers Inn, Hartley 2790
Tel: 6355 2117
Email: hartley@environment.nsw.gov.au
Hours: 10am-4pm; Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays.
Visitor Services Assistant: Joanne Delesantro, Jessica Van Der Kley
In 1837, a courthouse was constructed on the Great Western Highway and a small village grew up around it. Settlers moved into the village and a number of houses and inns were built.
The courthouse still stands as an Historic Site and is open for self guided and group tours

Lithgow & District Family History Society Inc.
Ewen Smith Memorial Hall
43 Tank St, Lithgow NSW 2790
PO Box 516 Lithgow NSW 2790
Tel: 6353 1089 during hours
Email: secretary.ldfhs@gmail.com
Web: https://ldfhs.org.au/
Hours: 6pm-9pm Tuesday, 11am-4pm Friday, 11am-4pm first Saturday of the month.
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Lithgow State Mine Railway Ltd
State Mine Gully Road (workshop)
Suite 20-22, 184 Mort St (office)
Tel: 6352 2513
Email: mail@stateminerailway.com.au
Web: www.stateminerailway.com.au
Contact Tim Elderton 0429 140 654; Michael Wilson 0427 455 580
Working bees held Saturday of the month
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Mount Victoria Museum
Mount Victoria & District Historical Society Inc.
Mount Victoria Railway Station
Tel: 4782 7866
Email: jeanwinston@iinet.net.au
Web: www.mountvictoriamuseum.info
Contact Jean Winston
Hours: Museum open 12 noon – 3pm. Saturday, Sunday, public and school holidays. Closed Christmas Day & Good Friday
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Newnes Oil Shale Ruins, Wollemi National Park
Wolgan Valley. Turn off the Mudgee Road 50km north of Lithgow PO
Tel: 6350 3230
Hours:  Daily. Newnes Kiosk open weekends & public holidays 10:30am – 5pm
Established in 1906, the Newnes Shale Oil Mine produced low-grade oil. Today the ruins of the site are all that remain. The Newnes Hotel still stands today and operates as an information kiosk on weekends
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Small Arms Factory Museum Inc.
69 Methven St, Lithgow 2790
Tel: 6351 4452
Email: admin@lithgowsafmuseum.org.au
Web: www.lithgowsafmuseum.org.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com.au/lithgowsafmuseum
Hours: Please check our Website for opening Hours
Discover the history of Australia’s first high-precision, mass production plant, its workers, & community. A world-class collection of firearms is on display

State Mine Heritage Park & Railway
3A State Mine Gully Rd, Lithgow 2790
Postal address: PO Box 617 Lithgow 2790
Email: statemin@lisp.com.au
Web: www.statemine.org.au
Hours: 12 noon-4.00pm weekends, or by arrangement
Located on the site of the Lithgow State Coal Mine. Take an engaging emotional journey into the working lives of the Lithgow region’s miners and their families.
Contact: Secretary, The City of Greater Lithgow Mining Museum Inc

Zig Zag Railway
Chifley Road, Clarence 2790
11 km east Lithgow PO
Tel: 6355 2955
Unfortunately the Zig Zag Railway is currently closed to passengers.
WE ARE WORKING HARD TO BRING STEAM TRAINS BACK TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINs
Since the disastrous October 2013 bush fire swept through the railway, volunteers have been busy repairing and replacing track, buildings, rolling stock and machinery in preparation for our reopening.
To keep up to date with our progress and see more photos.
Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ZigZagRailway/