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Australia’s oldest munitions factory, the Lithgow Small Arms Factory, is under further review for inclusion to the State Heritage Register in NSW.
The State Heritage Register Committee of the NSW Independent Planning Commission has announced further consideration for the factory to determine whether its heritage values meet the statutory criteria for state-level protection under the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW).
The factory, which opened in 1912, played a central role in industrial weapons production for the Australian Defence forces during World War I and World War II. In addition, its connections to early technical innovation, historical labour and national defence figures are being considered.
A recently released Heritage NSW Assessment Report stated that the “completeness as an intact munitions manufacturing precinct” was deemed a rare circumstance.
“Lithgow Small Arms Factory (SAF) is of state heritage significance as the only pre-World War II munitions facility still in operation in NSW and as a relatively intact 20th century manufacturing facility which retains evidence of each phase of expansion,” according to the report.
“There are buildings associated with each phase of operation, from pre-World War I to post-World War II.
“Lithgow Small Arms Factory holds social value to the community of retired and serving military personnel across NSW. Lithgow SAF has been identified as a place of intergenerational pride, in its manufacturing capability, longevity and productivity – providing weapons and ammunition to Australian soldiers in every conflict since World War I.
“As a result of this, many former and current servicepeople in NSW, and Australia generally, feel a strong connection to the place.
“For many current and former servicepeople, this esteem is vested in the Lithgow SAF Museum, where the connection to the place is most accessible to community members.
“The museum has also been identified as being of social value to members of other groups including armaments and military history enthusiasts and industrial historians, not only across NSW but also across Australia and internationally.”
In addition, the report outlined that the site potentially meets six of the seven statutory criteria for state heritage significance, such as historical significance, association with significant people or groups, aesthetic or technical value, social value, rarity and representativeness but not the potential to yield information contributing to NSW’s cultural or natural history.
Public submissions on the State Heritage Listing proposal were opened on 12 February this year and will remain open until mid-March 2026, providing stakeholders and community members an opportunity to comment on the proposed heritage listing.
The outcome of the heritage listing process will be considered by the Minister for Environment and Heritage, with public input and expert assessments forming part of the final decision on whether the factory will be added to the State Heritage Register.
Defence industry company and current owner/operator of the site, Thales Australia, a subsidiary of Thales Group, has previously confirmed it does not support listing the Lithgow Small Arms Factory on the State Heritage Register.
The company had stated during a Heritage Council meeting in April last year that any potential heritage listing could limit defence preparedness, future operations of the factory, expansion or redevelopment and restrict future “surge capacity” to meet emergency defence demand.
“While Thales recognises the site’s historic significance, we do not support the proposed listing as heritage restrictions on the operational site would be incompatible with preparedness needs of Australia in expanding defence manufacturing in Lithgow,” according to a Thales spokesperson.
“Thales remains committed to working constructively with government and stakeholders to balance appropriate recognition of the site’s history with securing its long-term role in Australia’s defence industry.”
Lithgow City Council, which has previously opposed the heritage listing, was approached for comment.
