SAVE  LITHGOW  SAF MUSEUM

The Lithgow SAF Museum, located in the Central West region of NSW, Australia, urgently needs heritage protection for its highly significant site and the honouring of previous commitments to transfer the site to the Museum. This will enable the Museum to continue its mission to preserve and share its unique collection and UNESCO Listed archives. As the birthplace of high-precision manufacturing in Australia, the site is an integral part of this important living museum.

The Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum Remains Closed and its Future is at Risk

The future of the Museum hinges on Thales honouring its long-standing promise to transfer the site to the Museum, or on government action to ensure this transfer goes ahead. If the transfer does not occur, the museum cannot reopen. Prolonged closure would necessitate the dispersal of the nationally significant collection, a permanent loss to Australia's industrial, social, and defence heritage. 

Thales are reneging on the offered transfer, claiming that the Australian government now requires them to retain control of the Museum's site for a possible expansion - which would necessitate demolition of the heritage buildings.

The Museum's site occupies less than 2% of the overall property, this being a prominent section facing Methven Street containing iconic heritage buildings. Thales' previous expansions have been constructed close to their existing buildings towards the rear of the property, away from the town centre.  Adjoining sites on Methven Street have been subdivided and sold by Thales to members of the Brethren Church in recent years.

Thales have made a spurious alternative offer of a long term lease - an arrangement they are aware is unworkable.  They continue to reiterate an equally infeasible offer to store the museum's firearms in their own storage facility which they are also aware does not meet the needs of the collection and would be completely unnecessary if they were not causing lengthy delays in upgrading security. These delays have already forced the Museum to spend over $90,000 on temporary security—money that should have supported recovery and rebuilding efforts. The substantial cost of upgrading security (estimated $200,000) must also be borne by the Museum - without any income and with no surety for the future of the works.

The Museum has exciting plans for the future, including a dedicated Australian Firearms History Centre and a cafe, conference and community venue in the original heritage factory canteen building.   These can be possible only with site ownership.  Volunteers are unwilling to pursue these developments under the duress and hostility they have experienced over the past two decades and the ever-present possibility of eviction.

There has been a significant development in the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the Lithgow Small Arms Factory site. The State Heritage Register (SHR) Committee has resolved to issue its notice of intention to list the Factory on the State Heritage Register. This is an important step forward. The next stage is a public submissions period, which is currently running until 11 July 2025. 

We will apply for national heritage listing when applications open this year.

The best ways you can help right now:

 📝 Make a Submission Supporting Heritage Listing (Closes 11 July 2025 )