Lithgow, New South Wales

Last updated

Lithgow
New South Wales
Aerial View of Lithgow June 2018.jpg
Aerial view of Lithgow in June 2018, looking west
Australia New South Wales location map blank.svg
Red pog.svg
Lithgow
Coordinates 33°29′S150°09′E / 33.483°S 150.150°E / -33.483; 150.150
Population11,197 (2021) [1]
Established1870s
Postcode(s) 2790
Elevation950 m (3,117 ft) [2]
Location
LGA(s) City of Lithgow
County Cook
Parish Lett
State electorate(s) Bathurst
Federal division(s) Calare
Mean max tempMean min tempAnnual rainfall
18.2 °C
65 °F		6.4 °C
44 °F		860.1 mm
33.9 in

Lithgow is a town in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the administrative centre of the City of Lithgow local government area. 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.

Contents

Lithgow is on the Great Western Highway, about 150 km (95 mi) west of Sydney, [3] or via the old mountain route, Bells Line of Road, from Windsor. At June 2021 Lithgow had an urban population of 11,197. [1] Lithgow is surrounded by a varied landscape characterised by seven valleys which include 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. [4]

Location

Main Street Shops in 2019 Lithgow NSW Main Street Shops NOV2019 (cropped).jpg
Main Street Shops in 2019

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 Clwydd 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 NSW TrainLink's Blue Mountains Line electric services. Lithgow is home to the iconic zig-zag railway.

History

Blast Furnace at Lithgow (early C20th prior to 1928). Blast furnace at Lithgow, N.S.W. - very early 1900s.jpg
Blast Furnace at Lithgow (early C20th prior to 1928).

The mountainous terrain of the Blue Mountains and the expense of building long tunnels required the construction of the Lithgow Zig Zag 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, parts of the Zig Zag have been developed into a popular tourist attraction. [5] Following a period of industrialisation in the late 1860s and 1870s, the town of Lithgow boomed during the 1880s, and it was incorporated as a borough in 1889. [6]

The town situated in the centre of a coal mining district and there is one coal-powered power station nearby. It is the site of Australia's first commercially viable steel mill, [7] 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 is one of the largest power stations in NSW, the Mount Piper Power Station. The Wallerawang Power Station closed in 2014 and was subsequently demolished. The (now demolished) Lithgow Power Station was operational from 1928 to 1964.

Population

At the 2021 census, there were 12,385 people in Lithgow.

Heritage listings

St Helens (1)St Helens Lithgow.jpg
St Helens
Methven Methven, Lithgow, New South Wales - Lith0004.jpg
Methven

Lithgow has a number of heritage-listed sites, including the following listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register:

In addition, the following sites were listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate: [19]

Lithgow was also the location of an alleged assassination attempt on the life of Queen Elizabeth II in 1970. [20]

Climate

Lithgow features a subtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) with warm summers, cool to cold winters and generally steady precipitation year-round. Despite its location on highlands, Lithgow manages to have 90.3 clear days annually.

Lithgow is one of the few Australian cities to see snow, although snowfall is rarely in significant quantities due to the rain shadow brought about by the ranges to the west of the city. One major event was the late season snowfall in October 2014, where 20 centimetres of snow fell. [21] [22]

Climate data for Lithgow (Birdwood St, 1912–2006, rainfall to 1889); 950 m AMSL; 33.49° S, 150.15° E
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)37.8
(100.0)		38.4
(101.1)		35.1
(95.2)		30.8
(87.4)		23.9
(75.0)		19.5
(67.1)		19.8
(67.6)		22.5
(72.5)		27.6
(81.7)		33.1
(91.6)		37.2
(99.0)		36.8
(98.2)		38.4
(101.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)25.5
(77.9)		24.7
(76.5)		22.4
(72.3)		18.4
(65.1)		14.3
(57.7)		11.1
(52.0)		10.4
(50.7)		12.0
(53.6)		15.4
(59.7)		18.7
(65.7)		21.5
(70.7)		24.5
(76.1)		18.2
(64.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)11.9
(53.4)		12.1
(53.8)		10.1
(50.2)		6.7
(44.1)		3.9
(39.0)		1.8
(35.2)		0.7
(33.3)		1.3
(34.3)		3.4
(38.1)		6.0
(42.8)		8.1
(46.6)		10.4
(50.7)		6.4
(43.5)
Record low °C (°F)2.8
(37.0)		3.5
(38.3)		0.0
(32.0)		−4.0
(24.8)		−6.1
(21.0)		−7.0
(19.4)		−8.0
(17.6)		−8.0
(17.6)		−5.0
(23.0)		−2.3
(27.9)		−1.7
(28.9)		0.6
(33.1)		−8.0
(17.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)94.3
(3.71)		83.8
(3.30)		83.8
(3.30)		62.7
(2.47)		63.0
(2.48)		67.3
(2.65)		67.6
(2.66)		63.4
(2.50)		58.9
(2.32)		67.7
(2.67)		70.0
(2.76)		76.1
(3.00)		861.8
(33.93)
Average rainy days10.610.210.69.110.411.711.711.110.210.310.09.8125.7
Average afternoon relative humidity (%)54586059666766565451535058
Source: [2]

Iron and steel industry

Lithgow at dusk c. 1989 (1)Lithgow dusk 1989.jpg
Lithgow at dusk c. 1989

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.

Retail

Lithgow's range of both small and major retailers include:

Lithgow has one major shopping centre, Lithgow Valley Plaza. With over 500 parking spaces, the Plaza has two anchor stores and over 30 specialty retailers including:

The Lithgow District Chamber of Commerce has been providing advocacy, events and services for local retailers and the economy of Lithgow and the surrounding towns and villages since 2015.

Tourist attractions

Blast Furnace park Blastfurnacelithgow.jpg
Blast Furnace park

Lithgow is adjacent to a number of national parks and other attractions. Places to visit include the Zig Zag Railway, Glow Worm Tunnel, Newnes in the Wolgan Valley and Glen Davis in the Capertee Valley, the second largest canyon in the world. [23]

Eskbank House Eskbank House Lithgow.jpg
Eskbank House

Other attractions include the Hartley Historic Site, Lithgow 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. [24]

The most popular tourist event in Lithgow is Ironfest (Lithgow), an annual cultural heritage event that attracts over 10,000 visitors. [25] Ironfest hosts the annual St George's Day Jousting Tournament which involves contestants from all around the world. The festival also features a 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. As well as these two historical re-enactment events Ironfest includes historical & auto displays, blacksmith demonstrations, art exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations, as well as live music and performances.

James St bridge James St bridge Lithgow.jpg
James St bridge
Lithgow station SAM 0371.jpg
Lithgow station

The Lithgow Greyhound Racing Club was established in 1928 [26] [27] and its Saturday race meetings are also a popular tourist attraction. The annual feature event is the Lithgow Golden Muzzle held every December, which is sponsored by the Lithgow Workers Club.

Media

Electronic media in Lithgow is represented by commercial radio stations 2LT and Move FM operated by Midwest Radio Network, public broadcasters ABC and SBS, and commercial networks Seven, WIN and Southern Cross 10, 7two, 7mate, 9Gem, 9Go!, 10 Bold and 10 Peach.

There is a free fortnightly paper – The Central West Village Voice. The Lithgow Mercury is a newspaper published weekly.

Notable residents

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Significant Urban Area, 2008 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Climate statistics for Lithgow (Birdwood St)". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Robinson's Road Atlas of Australia, Edition 8 (Lansdowne Press) 1983, Map 204
  4. ↑ "Wollemi National Park: Visitor Info". NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Visit a Park. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service . Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  5. ↑ Bozier, Rolfe (ed.). "Main Western Line". NSWrail.net. Retrieved 29 November 2006.
  6. ↑ Cremin, Aedeen (1989). "The Growth of an Industrial Valley: Lithgow, New South Wales" (PDF). Australian Historical Archaeology. Sydney, New South Wales: Australian Society for Historical Archaeology. 7: 38. OCLC   742063057.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ Grunbach, A (September 2000). "An Episode in our Troubled Steel Industry". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin : 323–331.
  8. ↑ "Lithgow Valley Colliery & Pottery Site". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00078. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  9. ↑ "Great Zig Zag Railway and Reserves". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00542. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  10. ↑ "Lithgow Coal Stage Signal Box". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01832. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  11. ↑ "Lithgow Blast Furnace". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00548. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  12. ↑ "Eskbank House and Moveable Collections". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H02008. Retrieved 18 February 2020. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  13. ↑ "McKanes Falls Bridge". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01473. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  14. ↑ "Lithgow (James St) Underbridge". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01831. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  15. ↑ "Eskbank Railway Station group". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01138. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  16. ↑ "Great Zig Zag Railway deviation tunnels". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01037. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  17. ↑ "Lithgow Railway Station Group and Residence". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01833. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  18. ↑ "Cooerwull Railway footbridge". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01115. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence .
  19. ↑ The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, pp.2/264-265
  20. ↑ Malkin, Bonnie; Pierce, Andrew (27 January 2009). "Queen and Prince Philip were 'victims' of Australian assassination attempt". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  21. ↑ Hart, Chloe; Woodburn, Joanna (16 October 2014). "Power still out and clean up continues day after Lithgow snow storm". ABC News. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  22. ↑ Nageshwar, Pranesh; Paterson, Ian (15 October 2014). "Snow falls in Blackheath in springtime as Sydney's wild weather continues". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  23. ↑ "Capertee Valley". Lithgow Visitor Information Centre. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "Lithgow". Visit NSW. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "Come for the knight life". The Sydney Morning Herald . 5 April 2008. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020.
  26. ↑ 1928 Lithgow Greyhounds
  27. ↑ "Lithgow Greyhound Racing Club". Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  28. ↑ "Andrew Brown". Lithgow Tourism. Auzziebiz. 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  29. ↑ Kerry Myers (3 August 2014). "A faithful son of the church: former Sydney Archbishop Edward Clancy dies". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  30. ↑ Doyle, John (9 July 2006). "The Songlines Conversations". Big Ideas (transcript). Interviewed by Gregg Borschmann. ABC Radio National. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  31. ↑ Michael Hunt. "A Guide to Aussie Hip-Hop". ToneDeaf. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  32. ↑ Jackson Nelson, Marjorie (31 May 2004). "GNT History". George Negus Tonight (transcript). Interviewed by George Negus. ABC1 . Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  33. ↑ K. A. Johnson (1983). Jones, Nina Eva Vida (1882–1966). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 9. Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  34. ↑ Williams, Brett (December 2009). "To live and breathe politics" (PDF). Police Journal. Police Association of South Australia: 26–27, 47. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  35. ↑ "David Troy Palmer - Bio". David Palmer Biography. Team Palmer. 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  36. ↑ "Marty Roebuck player profile". Scrum.com. ESPN EMEA Ltd. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  37. ↑ Lee, Jack. Truscott, William John (1886–1966). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
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