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Sawmillers Reserve on Sydney Harbour

Wrecked Barge at Sawmillers Reserve

Sawmillers Reserve on Sydney Harbour

Located in the Sydney suburb of Waverley, Sawmillers Reserve is a beautiful park with an industrial heritage. For 100 years from 1880, the area housed a sawmill, but is now a leafy park on Sydney Harbour. Not only are remnants of the sawmill visible, but a ship wreck sits on the harbour foreshore.

Getting There

Public transport is a great option when visiting here, because parking is limited. We used the train, getting off at North Sydney Station before walking ten minutes to the reserve. On the way we stopped at a little coffee shop, before continuing.

Alternatively, it’s only a 10-minute walk from McMahons Point Ferry Wharf, giving another easy way to get here.

Ruins at Sawmillers Reserve

The reserve contains the remains of the sawmill, which have been placed together by artist Jane Gillings. The ruins draw attention to the changing use of the site from industrial, to open public space.

Remains of the Timber Yard at Sawmillers Reserve
Remains of the Timber Yard

Ship Wreck

The wreck of a Marine Service Board Hopper Barge lies just offshore, making an excellent backdrop to Sydney Harbour. Now slowly rusting away, the barge broke its moorings in the 1960s, before grounding in Berrys Bay off Sawmillers Reserve. This barge was used to carry dredged material out to the spoil dumping grounds off Sydney, but is now a heritage listed wreck.

Wrecked Barge at Sawmillers Reserve
Wrecked Barge on the Foreshore

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

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Blast Furnace Park Lithgow New South Wales

The Furnace Lithgow New South Wales www.destinationsjourney.com

Blast Furnace Park Lithgow

Blast Furnace Park Lithgow in NSW comprises the ruins of the old blast furnace that used to operate on the site. What would otherwise have been a very bland and boring attraction has been developed into a great little place to walk around and learn about Lithgow’s industrial past.

Access around and through the buildings is by raised walkways. These are accompanied by information boards which give details about usage, design and development. There are gravel pathways further from the ruins and a lookout over the area from the top of a small hill.

Blast Furnace Park Lithgow NSW www.destinationsjourney.com
Blast Furnace Park
Main Building Blast Furnace Park Lithgow NSW www.destinationsjourney.com
Main Building Blast Furnace Park
Inside Ruins at Blast Furnace Park Lithgow NSW www.destinationsjourney.com
Inside Ruins at Blast Furnace Park
Ruins at Blast Furnace Park Lithgow NSW www.destinationsjourney.com
Ruins at Blast  Furnace Park

One of the areas nearby has warning signs for slippery surfaces and fall hazards, so don’t climb it. Anything you want to see there can be viewed from the lookout or raised walkways.

Parking at The Furnace is easy and there is plants of space. Be careful using your navigation system. Ours tried to take us through an industrial area and along some railway tracks. The actual entrance is the obvious one with the sign.  If you do follow your navigation system then you will end up on the wrong side of a big fence.  Not that we would know this.

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

Our photos are available for purchase on