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Category: Military Museum

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Small Arms Factory Lithgow

Rifle Display in Semi Circular Outlay Small Arms Factory Lithgow

The Small Arms Factory in Lithgow is a reminder of Australia’s industrial past when the country was self reliant and able to produce its small armaments. Now disused the factory is merely an empty shell, although Thales still operate part of the site. However the old administration building is now a museum displaying items once manufactured there. In addition it displays over 800 handguns in the Hayes Gallery, which is one of the best in the country, housing some rare and unique items.

Parking

Parking is off street in the old employee car park, which provides plenty of space. Entry is via the main doors back on the street, just follow the signs. Once inside, pay the entrance fee to the attendant who will then give you a brief overview of the museum.

The Small Arms Factory Displays

The first room displays some of the non military items manufactured when the demand for guns was low. These ranged from sewing machines, sheep shearing handsets and hand cuffs to medical implants . This leads into some of the larger projects including track shoes for the Leopard tank and M113.

  • Handcuffs Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Handcuffs
  • Sewing Machine Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Sewing Machine

The second floor houses the gun collection with contains a comprehensive display of machine guns, rifles and handguns. Several uniquely Australian items are on display including prototypes and pre-production guns.

  • Taisho Type 14 Nambu The Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Taisho Type 14 Nambu
  • Machine Guns Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Machine Guns
  • Bren Light Machine Gun Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Bren Light Machine Gun
  • Rifles on Display Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Rifles on Display
  • Double Barrel Percussion Pistol by Deanne's of London Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Double Barrel Percussion Pistol by Deanne’s of London

The exit through the gift shop, where there is an opportunity to purchase die cast guns, mugs, beer coolers and other souvenirs.

  • Rifle Display in Semi Circular Outlay Small Arms Factory Lithgow
    Rifle Display

What Did We Think?

Whilst small, it is certainly a great piece of Australian military and industrial history worth seeing when in Lithgow. Another part of Lithgow military heritage is at the Bowenfels gun emplacements which were built to defend the Small Arms Factory.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Middle Head Sydney Harbour

View to South Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour

Middle Head

Middle Head on Sydney Harbour houses the remains of Sydney’s original fortifications. Designed to repel an invasion from the sea, these huge concrete structures no longer have their guns, but remain as a reminder of times when Australia thought it was going to be invaded.

The Royal Australian Navy still has a presence in the area with HMAS Penguin still an active naval base. The car park for Middle Head is near the base. There is a fee for parking here and ticket machines are located in the car park.

Several of the old administration buildings are still in use and you walk past them on your way to the gun emplacements. The concrete structures are extensive, and you are free to walk around, through and over them. We explored them for a while and then admired the views over the harbour and towards North Head and South Head with Hornby Lighthouse.

  • Fortifications Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    Fortifications
  • Fortifications Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    Fortifications
  • View to North Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    View to North Head Across the Harbour
  • View to South Head Across the Harbour Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    View to South Head Across the Harbour

There is a small display of cannon carriages, but this is in need of signage and maintenance to give context to the display. Likewise, the tiger cages constructed in the area require an explanation to make them relevant.

  • Tiger Cage Middle Head Sydney Harbour
    Tiger Cage

There are no food and drink outlets on the site, but we took our own and had a great view over the harbour while we ate.

Beehive Casements

Situated on Middle Head and maintained by National Parks and Wildlife, this old fortress can only be accessed by a guided tour. Details of the dates and costs can be found on NPWS website.

To get there, you drive through leafy Mossman and pass many lovely houses. Parking in the area is limited, so either arrive early, or walk from one of the larger car parks. Warning signs along the road show that parking in a non designated area will incur a $300 fine.

Beehive Casements Tour

The guide met us at the beehive casements where he gave an overview of their history and significance to Sydney. We then walked down stairs to the interior of the fort. The stairs can be slippery so take care. Once inside, you can see the extent of the excavations needed to build them. The passageways are often wet, because the sandstone they were built with is porous and water constantly sleeps through.

Embrasures facing Sydney Harbour provide a magnificent view and show why the forts were built here as they have a commanding view of any ships attempting to enter the harbour.

The shape of the interior provides the name of the casements, as they look like a conical beehives. The remains of several old cannons lie on the rock floors, but have unfortunately been burnt by vandals in the past. Some other remnants like racks for tools and coat racks still line the walls but have become rotted or rusty, providing some interesting photographic opportunities.

  • Beehive Casements Upper Works

    Upper Works of the Beehive Casements
  • Beehive Casements Tunnel
    Beehive Casements Tunnel
  • Beehive Casements Interior
    Beehive Casements Interior
  • Stairs Down to Lower Level
    Stairs Down to Lower Level
  • Burnt Cannon Carriage
    Burnt Cannon Carriage
  • Burnt Cannon Carriage
    Burnt Cannon Carriage

For another perspective of the beehive casements, look for them when taking the Manly ferry. They can be found low down on the waterline of the cliffs. Looking carefully the three gun embrasures are visible.

Beehive Casements From Sydney Harbour
Beehive Casements From Sydney Harbour

A great place to visit and see Sydney’s early history as well as fantastic views over the harbour. For more early fortifications and military history, visit nearby Bradleys Head and the HMAS Sydney (I) mast and Royal Australian Navy memorials.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Bowenfels Gun Emplacements

QF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Gun Bowenfels Gun Emplacements Lithgow NSW

Bowenfels Gun Emplacements

The Bowenfels Gun Emplacements were constructed during World War 2,  to protect the Small Arms Factory and coal production at a Lithgow. These industries were important to Australia’s war effort.  The potential of an attack due to improvements in aircraft technology led to the construction of air defenses.

Placed around Lithgow, two anti-aircraft batteries defended the town and its infrastructure during the early 1940s. Three dummy sites, intended to confuse attackers were built nearby. The Bowenfels site is the only one preserved. Well presented with information panels describing the area and its function, it is great to walk around. Several panels were from World War 2, like the one below on how to recognise Japanese planes.

  • Aircraft Recognition Chart Bowenfels Gun Emplacements Lithgow NSW
    Aircraft Recognition Chart


 QF 3.7” Anti-Aircraft Guns

A huge bonus is the presence of three 3.7” anti-aircraft guns, placed as they would have been during the war. These are mobile units, not the static ones used here, but are very similar. This gives the site a realistic feel, unlike many other disused fortifications where no guns are present.

  • QF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Gun Bowenfels Gun Emplacements Lithgow NSW
    QF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Gun
  • QF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Gun Bowenfels Gun Emplacements Lithgow NSW
    QF 3.7-inch Anti-Aircraft Gun

The concrete structures are all in good condition and visitors can enter them all and inspect the guns. Panels detail the uses of the different types of structures. Some were for the guns while others housed range detectors and command bunkers.

  • Bowenfels Gun Emplacements Lithgow NSW
    Bowenfels Gun Emplacements Lithgow NSW

Access to the Gun Emplacements

Access is easy, and a small visitors’ car park is available next to the site, which is only a short walk away. Now surrounded by modern development on three sides, the site itself is in a grassy field.  Walking over the field is easy, but no pathways are present, so be careful and watch your footing.

A great piece of Australian war time history hidden away in the outskirts of Lithgow. After visiting the Small Arms Factory, it was interesting to visit its defender only a few kilometers away. Worth visiting if you are in the area because it’s the only inland one known to exist.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.