Fast facts
- An historic mining town on the western edge of the Blue Mountains
- Famous for the Zig-Zag Railway, the most innovative engineering feat of the 19th century
- Olympic sprinter Marjorie 'Lithgow Flash' Jackson was born in Lithgow
- 160 km west of Sydney, population 11,450
Why go there
Lithgow has a bracing climate. It’s a popular stop for visitors heading to Heart of Country NSW, and has a number of fine public and private buildings, reflecting its key place in Australia’s industrial history.
History
Lithgow is a proud working town that has played a significant role in the shaping of Australian commerce and industry.
A meat refrigeration works was established by Thomas Mort in 1875, and the first Australian chilled meat from Lithgow arrived in England in 1880.
By 1900 Lithgow had produced the first steel manufactured in Australia, utilising the country's first blast furnace, which was followed by copper smelting, breweries, brickworks, pipe and pottery works.
Things to do
- Ride the Zig Zag Railway.
- Explore State Mine Heritage Park.
- Catch a whopper at Archvale Trout Farm.
- Inspect Belgrave Park Alpaca Stud.
- Discover the Glow Worm Tunnel at Newnes Plateau.
Events
- Go Kart Racing, fourth Sunday of the month at Lithgow City Raceway.
- Markets at Bowenfels Station, first and third Saturdays of the month.
Don’t miss
- Captured Craft at the Lithgow Correctional Centre, weekends and by appointment.
- A beer at historic Lithgow Workers Club.
- A Lithgow heritage tour.
- The Cox's River Escape – a full day away from care.
- The lookouts for spectacular bush, valley and mountain views.
