50-446: The Glowworm Tunnel is a disused railway tunnel between Lithgow, New South Wales and Newnes, New South Wales , Australia. It is notable for its resident glow-worms, the bioluminescent larvae of Arachnocampa richardsae , a type of fungus gnat . The 20 chains (1,320.0 ft; 402.3 m) tunnel was bored through the sandstone in 1907 as part of the Newnes railway line that served
100-555: 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 , 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
150-544: A complete spike-making machine, where spikes for the Railway Construction Department had been made the previous three years. The foundry department had two large travelling cranes, a large and small cupola and an air furnace. There was also a large Siemens melting furnace, for dealing with scrap, scrap and pig iron. It was complete with a steam travelling crane capable of lifting 6.4-tonne (7-short-ton) cast iron moulds and large wrought iron ladles. Cement used in
200-418: A partially co-operative principle, which it was expected would cheapen production and give better results generally. During the cessation of work the plant was added to and improved, in this way the sheet mill now starts equipped to produce nearly double its former product. An order for 91 tonnes (100 short tons) of spike iron, to be supplied at the rate of 9.1 tonnes (10 short tons) weekly, had been obtained from
250-449: A protectionist against Joseph Cook in the 1901 federal parliamentary election. He then tried to convince the NSW government to take over the works. Finally, when a tender for steel and iron supply became available he bribed three parliamentarians, including William Holman, to win the contract. Part of that deal included the construction of a blast furnace, to enable production of pig iron for steel. Sandford complied. The Blast Furnace
300-484: A small percentage of what was imported into Sydney . The works and sidings occupied a space of about 5 hectares (12 acres), situated between the Main Western Railway Line and Farmer's Creek, being connected with the main line at Eskbank Station, with sidings all round the works. Sand for the works was obtained from Farmer's Creek, close by, and loam for the foundry from a paddock adjoining the works. Within
350-595: Is a free fortnightly paper – The Central West Village Voice. The Lithgow Mercury is a newspaper published weekly. Local bus services are operated by Lithgow Buslines . Lithgow railway station on the Main Western railway line is the terminus for NSW TrainLink Blue Mountains Line services from Sydney . As well as being a calling point for the Bathurst Bullet , Central West Express and Outback Xplorer services to Bathurst , Dubbo and Broken Hill , it
400-571: Is a heritage-listed former blast furnace and now park and visitor attraction at Inch Street, Lithgow , City of Lithgow , New South Wales , Australia. It was built from 1906 to 1907 by William Sandford Limited. It is also known as Eskbank Ironworks Blast Furnace site ; Industrial Archaeological Site . The property is owned by Lithgow City Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. Lithgow's association with its iron and steel works
450-410: Is a symbol for the struggle for better conditions. There is still a "spirit of Lithgow" of which the site is a potent expression. The remains represent an organic growth and refinement of a major industrial plant and are in themselves a resource for studying technical change in ironmaking. [REDACTED] This Misplaced Pages article was originally based on Lithgow Blast Furnace , entry number 00548 in
500-602: Is part of electorate of Calare . Lithgow is the western terminus for the electric section of the Main Western railway line from Sydney. It is home to the Zig Zag Railway . 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
550-578: 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. The city sits on the western edge of the sandstone country of the Blue Mountains and
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#1732869311674600-522: 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 . Lithgow is on the Great Western Highway , about 150 km (95 mi) west of Sydney , or via the old mountain route, Bells Line of Road , from Windsor . At June 2021 Lithgow had an urban population of 11,197. Lithgow
650-673: Is the terminus for road coach services from Orange , Grenfell , Dubbo , Nyngan , Parkes and Coonabarabran . In 1983, the State Rail Authority opened the Lithgow Locomotive Maintenance Centre at the eastern end of Lithgow. It is today operated by Pacific National . Southern Shorthaul Railroad has a maintenance facility at the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway . Lithgow Blast Furnace The Lithgow Blast Furnace
700-505: 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
750-721: The Capertee Valley , the second largest canyon in the world. Other attractions include the Hartley Historic Site, Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum, Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway 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. The most popular tourist event in Lithgow is Ironfest , an annual cultural heritage event that attracts over 10,000 visitors. Ironfest hosts
800-542: The Newnes oil shale mines that operated during the early 20th century. The railway was closed in 1932 and the rails were pulled out of the tunnel. The tunnel is now contained within the Wollemi National Park and is a popular attraction for bushwalkers and tourists. Outside the tunnel, the area features spectacular gorges, caves and scenery. The site is maintained by the National Parks and Wildlife Service . On
850-480: The Eskbank Ironworks. He had been working Eskbank since the 1880s, and although tapping steel was a triumph, he was nearly exhausted by it. Sandford felt iron and steel were basic commodities and needed to be boosted, and tried every which way to protect and support his venture. While Lithgow's coal miners were free traders, iron workers and their bosses were protectionists, so, to advance his cause, Sandford ran as
900-528: The Eskbank enterprise onto a solid footing before the surge in production caused by World War I. The outbreak of WWI saw considerable expansion in operations, although Lithgow's monopoly on iron smelting was about to be seriously challenged by BHP , who opened their Newcastle plant in 1915. However, the opening of a Small Arms factory in Lithgow ensured that the Hoskins' works flourished. A great deal of their profit
950-586: The NSW Minister for Public Works, the Hon. John Sutherland and Dan Williams, an engineer from Canada who worked on the Lithgow Zig Zag railway project. The Lithgow Valley Iron Works (later the Eskbank Ironworks) then consisted of a blast furnace, foundry and two bar rolling mills with the necessary fitting and smiths' shops. About 18,000 tonnes (20,000 short tons) of pig iron was made initially from local ores, which
1000-569: The Railway Commissioners. The company soon found themselves with an overdraft of about A£ 60,000 and had decided on closing the works when Sandford took them on lease in 1885. He added mill after mill, with powerful shears, furnaces, boilers and rollers, so that now the mills were fully equipped for the work they had to do. Output for all classes of finished iron and steel for the three years ending 31 December 1901 averaged over 6,400 tonnes (7,000 short tons) per annum. It did not cover more than
1050-579: 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. The Lithgow Greyhound Racing Club
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#17328693116741100-461: The economy of Lithgow and the surrounding towns and villages since 2015. Lithgow offers a unique range of retail and specialised boutique stores along the main street, along with a large variety of quality cafes 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
1150-429: The end of 1916. Their success prompted them to build 80 coke ovens and a second blast furnace at the eastern end of the site in 1913. The second furnace was a near replica of Sandford's original construction, although slightly larger. Fifteen coke ovens were added shortly afterwards to cope with the extra fuel requirements. The Hoskins were highly active in the development of the ironworking industry and staunchly opposed
1200-659: The following criteria. Built in 1906-7, the Blast Furnace was the sole producer of iron in Australia for the first seven years of its life. It remained a major producer for the next thirteen, until its closure in 1928. It reflects the growth of the Australian iron and steel industry and the confidence of the emerging nation. These industries were also of enormous importance to New South Wales and Lithgow in particular. The Blast Furnace has aesthetic value in its superb siting clear of
1250-483: The government with iron and steel. With 700 out of work, the Premier invited the Hoskins brothers to take over the Lithgow iron and steelworks. They took over Sandford's overdraft of £138,000, paying £14,000 to shareholders in the form of 4 per cent bonds and paying £50,000 to Sandford himself. Although the complicated deal ensured Sandford's debts were paid and he received enough money to guarantee his financial security, he
1300-440: The growth of unionism. The Hoskins were clear-sighted about the technological problems of the steel and ironworks, and the labour issues, and had considerable business acumen, but Charles Hoskins was impatient and imperious and provoked industrial unrest as soon as he set foot in Lithgow in 1908. He was also a protectionist, and although his negotiations with government over tariffs were never entirely successful, he did manage to get
1350-456: The ironworks' fence is a colliery adit, where the coal was drawn out by an engine, and the same skips drawn around the works, so that coal was only handled once, into the skips; and the same skips were tipped into the furnace bins in the ironworks. Coal was thus used fresh from the colliery, and bore comparison in heating qualities with most of the English coals. On the siding to the works was situated
1400-478: The last employees were dismissed in 1932. The site was bought by the Lithgow City Council and was opened to the public as The Lithgow Blast Furnace Park in 1988. The site is on the south-western edge of the former Coal Stage Hill, a natural ridge which has been much modified by the construction and operation of the furnace and plant. It is roughly wedge shaped, with its base line and southern boundary on
1450-473: The layout of the Blast Furnace site represents the organic and uninterrupted growth of a workplace which is now the only relic of one of Australia's major industries. The Blast Furnace was the sole producer of iron in Australia for the first seven years of its life. The remains are in themselves a resource for studying technical changes in ironmaking. Lithgow Blast Furnace was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied
1500-460: The line of the Great Western railway line, which runs south-west north-east. The western boundary is formed by the back of Inch Street, while the northern boundary is an artificial line west-east. The site is on three levels: Archaeological remains of the three phases of occupation are as follows: The archaeological potential is high. Construction was in three phases: As at 8 April 2009,
1550-468: The location of an alleged assassination attempt on the life of Queen Elizabeth II in 1970. Lithgow features a moderate oceanic climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfb ) with mild to 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, though mostly insignificant in quantity due to
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1600-596: The rolling mills at the Eskbank Ironworks to roll rails. Sandford bought the ironworks in 1894. The Lithgow Blast Furnace was erected by William Sandford in 1906-1907, a short distance from the Eskbank Colliery which he had purchased outright in 1892. The construction of this later furnace over one kilometre (one mile) away from the Colliery was widely criticised, but its proximity to the railway and its size, providing scope for expansion, made it an understandable choice. It
1650-518: The south side of the tunnel, a large gap in the road prevents vehicular access. According to some sources, this gap was created deliberately to keep cars out of the tunnel, because the exhaust fumes would have killed the glow-worms. On the north side of the tunnel, a track leads to Newnes. Access to the tunnel is via several routes: Lithgow, New South Wales Lithgow is a town in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales , Australia and
1700-469: The steam sawmills, where timber of any ordinary size could be cut and delivered to the works. To heat the iron for the mill, four large furnaces were used, each capable of heating from 4.5–5.4 tonnes (5–6 short tons) of iron per shift. Attached were large horizontal boilers for raising steam by the waste-head from the furnaces. There was a great deal of equipment on site including immense Cornish boilers, weighing 20 tonnes (22 short tons) for raising steam by
1750-423: The town, its fine views and its functional architecture. It also has a romantic appeal and has been photographed often. The slag dumps which border the western part of the site powerfully evoke the elemental forces at work in the blast furnace. The men who built the furnace and worked there under difficult conditions, displayed endurance, solidarity, skill and pride in their work which deserves to be remembered. It
1800-498: The waste heat from the furnaces. There was a 1.4-tonne (1.5-short-ton) steam hammer, massive shears for cutting up rails into lengths, a large gantry, 91 centimetres (36 in) horizontal condensing 130-kilowatt (175 hp) engine and giant fly-wheels with 9 metres (30 ft) diameters, weighing 36 tonnes (40 short tons). The No. 2 Sheet Mill had a 32-tonne (35-short-ton) flywheel. In the fitting shops were lathes, screwing, drilling and punching machines, nut and bolt machines, and
1850-530: The winter 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 (7.9 in) of snow fell. 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
1900-506: The works was mostly made at the Cullen Bullen Company's lime and cement works, about 16 kilometres (10 mi) from Lithgow There was another mill principally for rolling sheets for galvanising and corrugating sheets up to 4 metres (12 ft) long and 27 gauge. On 24 April 1901 Sandford organised a gala dinner to announce that he and his son Esk had successfully tapped the first viable quantities of steel produced in Australia at
1950-441: Was "blown in" and officially opened by the premier of New South Wales, on 13 May 1907. It was Sandford's proudest moment and won him the title of the father of the Australian steel industry. His relations with workers were relatively harmonious and beneficent and the Eskbank estate was, to him, a satisfyingly noisy and smoky place. However behind the scenes, Sandford was financially and mentally strained. He could not raise capital but
2000-541: Was another of this city's big manufacturing eras. Its iron and steel works commenced in October 1875 when the first iron smelting took place. Ore had been discovered by Dan Williams on Eskbank land which was then owned by Enoch Hughes , who had previously worked at the Fitzroy Iron Works at Mittagong. The foundry was erected nearby after Hughes convinced James Rutherford , of Cobb & Co . fame, from Bathurst to become involved. The other principal shareholders were
2050-607: 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. 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
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2100-409: Was constructed for the sole purpose of smelting iron from ore. It is a popular misconception that the site was also an ironworks. Indeed the Eskbank Colliery furnace, which operated between 1875 and 1882, is often confused with Sandford's later furnace. After a layoff the mills at the Eskbank Ironworks were restarted on 30 July 1894. The old system had been discarded and the mills had now commenced on
2150-490: Was converted into rails and bars. Work was carried on intermittently, until it was decided to pull down the blast furnace and convert the castings into merchant iron. In May 1880 in the Lithgow Report it stated that the Eskbank Ironworks were working at the rate of four miles of rails per week. The new rails stood the test of 36 tonnes (40 short tons), the required standard being 27 tonnes (30 short tons). The blast furnace
2200-502: Was devastated and felt deceived by Charles Hoskins. His parting with the Lithgow community was sad for him, his wife Caroline, the workers and their community. In 1908 the company was purchased by Hoskins Bros, owners of the premier manufacturer of iron pipes in Australia. They made few initial alterations to the Blast Furnace, although the ironworks underwent substantial changes. The Hoskins also succeeded in having Sandford's government contract transferred to themselves and extended until
2250-645: Was established in 1928 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. 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
2300-463: Was in full swing and 91 tonnes (100 short tons) per week of iron was anticipated. The original blast furnace at the Eskbank Ironworks closed in 1882, and it is reported that James Rutherford - to avoid the temptation to ever reopen it - in the dead of night, used two dray-loads of blasting powder to blow it up. After the blast furnace closed down, the rolling mills were used to re-roll old iron rails into merchant bars. In 1886, William Sandford, leased
2350-448: 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. 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. The town situated in the centre of
2400-416: Was ploughed back into the expansion of capacity at the steelworks. In 1923 a fifth blowing engine was added to the original furnace. At 360 tonnes (400 short tons), it was the largest in Australia. In the mid 1920s, the decision was taken to move operations to Port Kembla , where the natural resource and transport network were more attractive. The first parts of the Lithgow site were closed in 1928, although
2450-463: Was subsequently demolished. The Lithgow Power Station was operational from 1928 to 1964. At the 2021 census , there were 12,385 people in Lithgow. 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 : Lithgow was also
2500-455: Was unwilling to cede his management to external investors such as John Lysaght Ltd., and although Charles Hoskins and his brother George looked at the plant, they pulled out when they saw the state of the books. The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney , which had underwritten the operation, foreclosed on the ironworks on 9 December 1907, although it kept the Blast Furnace running. William Sandford Limited could not fulfil its contract to supply
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