, I I I 'I . *. :1 :1 THE TOWN CLERK Telephone: 52 1077 • P.O. Box 19, Lithgow N.S.W. 2790 , :':-- REPORT AND REGISTER£ on the Local Government Area of the City of Greater Lithgow by:- LITHGOW PRESERVATION ADVISORY GROUP , ill t ,·t : I.f LITHG01v PRESERVATION ADVISORY GROUP INTRODUCTION The Lithgow Preservation Advisory Group was commissioned in August, 1982 from a public meeting, called by the Town Clerk, in deference to the Council's awareness of a need to recognise and n-,ake knolm those buildings and areas of particular historical and ecological significance. In elaboration, the Group's objectives are: 1. Identify areas of an historic nature including I buildings and specific sites 2. Formalise an approach in which these specific areas can be identified 3. Set down methods in which controls can be established for the protection or enhancement of identified areas Through the Environmental Ph~nning & Assessment Act, additional rf",sponsibility has been placed on individual I Councils to shape their communities; &_nd preserving the past, too, has been given recognition through the Heritage Act. These .A_cts - powerful legislative tools - can be ·1 effectively used by the Council to ensure progress proceeds sympatheticalIJ"' with the preservation of important i terns of environmental heritage. Lithgow, a cradle of industrial development in Australia, the birthplace of BHP a major initiator of manufacturing and mining in the nineteenth century, an important centre on the road leading west from Sydney, has significant reminders of our nation's history. The community has expressed interest and concern for the preservation of ·these reminders. Knowledge and respect for the past help us understand the present and. plan for a better future. Although various bodies and educational institutions have researched areas of Greater Lithgow in the past, there has been no overall register, no comprehensive list of what 've have been fortunate enough to have preserved from our predecessors. This Group has compiled such a~egister and formulated realistic recommendations. It is the group's view that the most important attitude the Council can demonstrate is a spirit of conservation, an awareness of its significance. 96 years after the first Lithgow Council was formed, Greater Lithgow now has a Council prepared to acknow'ledge a respect for the community's concern : . , for 'sensible conservation, and is legislatively equipped to promote that concern. We urge Council to continue in its efforts to preserve our heritage by implementing the re90mmendations contained in this report. The recommendations 'Here compiled from a conscious awareness for cOJ.?servation to be implemented harmoniously with progressive development. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. i I A. Pre-Settlement Sites 1 ilI . I B. NatuTal Environment 3· I C. Lithgow:Valley - built environment 6 I I D. Greater Lithgow Area 14 II t ! I E. Industrial Sites 20 :1 F. Recommendations 26 I- '1 • PRE-SETTLEMENT Aborigines were'the first settlers ,in the area and, being a nomadic people, evidence of their existence is fairly' scattered. There are, however, several sites of significance which are thought by anthropologists to be the relics of the Wiradjuri tribe which frequented the area 20,000 years ago. Not all sites are li.sted o All aboriginal sites come under the jurisdiction of the National Parks & Wildlife I Service who should be consulted as to the whereabouts of sites other than those listed by the Group. I I I I I I I I 2. PRE~SETTLEM}jNT SITES - Specific Sites I 1. BlackfelJ_ows Hands - near 1iolgan Gap A documentary statement made by the non-literate first occup~ers of this country 2. Aboriginal axe grinding grooves - Ben Bullen 30 Aboriginal site and rock painting - Pipers Flat Range 4. Aboriginal weaponsmaking site - Waratah Ridge, Newnes Forest I I ., i 3. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BasicallYf features of the natural environment which contribute to the character of Lithgow and its environs and which are worthy of retention should be identified and protected. This would 'not preclude development in total but such should still occur in some places without impingeing on areas of natural beauty. II The scope of these recommendations does not encompass the complete natural environment (i.e. excluded are :1 creeks, rivers, forests, specific plant life etc.) but is meant to focus on areas which the group feels should I be preserved and which are most commonly recognised. A I. complete study of the natural envi~onment would involve massive research and would be a lengthy undertaking in I itself. Therefore, whilst these recommendations merely scrape the surface they present a firm basis on which I planning principles may be adopted. I If the Council could only be more aware of retaining those elements which contribute to and enhance the character of 1 Lithgow, our environment and heritage would be secure. Lithgow is fortunately unique in being surrounded by fully I timbered ridges which form a natural boundary to the region. Expansion should be avoided in these areas and Lithgow's natural character retained. j I L...J NATURAL ENVIRONMENT - Specific sites 1. Hassan.s Walls, Scenic Hill and Bracey's Lookout Unspoilt scenic attractions with prominent viewscapes 2. Ida Falls Gully, Oakey Park? State Mine Gully and Water Works Gully •. · Areas of natural environment, close to settlement and readil~ access~ble Newnes, Penrose Gap, Glo"\" Worm Tunnel. Provide valuable aspects of early mining and railway development now regenerated to almost their natural state I 4. Capertee Valley and Wolgan Valley. Spectacular examples of sunken vallies. I 5. The hillsides at Hartley, Little Hartley and Hartley Vale should be preserved. The surrounds at Hartley contribute I to its histo~ical petting. I 6. Sugarloaf - the western point of entry to the Lithgow Valley has always been a landmark locally and its slopes I should be left bare of development 7. stand of Rowan trees ~n the Vale of Clwydd and along Inch I street. An uncommon tree these days, such a grouping I should be allowed to remain 8. Mt Blaxland and area, especially· the confluence of Cox's and Lett Rivers at Glenroy - early explorers terrj.tory I and still natural bushland .9. Newnes Plateau area contains a unique form of plantlj.fe, I mountain and club moss along with the areas where waratahs grow profusely and Waratah Ridge itself. These should not be allO\\'ed to suffer from extensive development because of the rare naturally occurring flora ....J 10. Kanimbla, Megalong and Hartley Valleys. A study is currently being undertaken to identify critical areas in these districts 11. Clarence/Newnes Plateau and the top end of state Mine Gully. These contain stands of Hountain Ash and outstanding rock formations 5 • 12. Baxter Hill behind Baxters House 'Sweet Briar' 13. Natural bush1and areas around Zig Zag Railway site 14. The catchment areas of: Wolgan River Cox. ' s River Bungelborri Capertee River Turon River Fish River There are numerous areas, known locally to bushwalkers, which are considered unique. For example, river caves I near Mt. Cameron, boulders on western ridges at Tarana (Evans Crown), deep pass near Mt Cameron, Mt Bindo, the I Beehive at Hampton I I I 6. LITHGm-r VALLEY - BUILT ENVIRONMENT The built environment in the Lithgow ValJey contains many fine and undisturbed buildings representing particular periods of the development of Australia, ·these indicate the rural expansion, industrial development and commercial enterprise of the nineteenth century. These, together with the twentieth century activities arising out of the role of I Lithgow in the defen:ce of Australia and the mineral resources which have been so vital to the wealth of the nation, are all 1 evident. Few ci t.ies can boa.st such a variety of actj.vi ties 1 and claim such an important role in Australia's history. I. I I I I , _ J I:j .1 ,I I ,1 '1 .,:1 7. LITHGOW VALLEY - BUILT ENVIRONMENT - Specific sites ANDREW BROWN SITES - These indicate the wealth and benevolence contained in rural activities and his influence on the town He bui.lt churches and schools as well as housing for himself9 his family and his employees. These offer a complete picture early industrial and institutional activity before the growth of Lithgow. Cooerwull Eouse and all associated buildings Chimney Stack associated with the Woollen Mills I Braemar I , Tweed Road I Fairview 1 , Great Western Highway I Methvenl , Methven Estate La Salle School (formerly the Acadamy) Cooerwull Churc,h and Hall Bowenfels Church and Hall ~ 1 lu 8. LITHGOW VALLEY - BUILT ENVIRONMENT - Specific sites PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS The area around the intersection of Bridge and Mort Streets contains a number of buildings that have been significant to the people of Lithgmv. It is worthy of being considered a h~ritage precinct area. Public Lj_brary (formerly Hoskins Insti t:ute) I The Court House I Hoski.ns Church (now Uniting Church) Public School and schoolmasters residence in Mort Street I Old Town Hall MUIOOF Hall' 9 Produce Store and buildings between in Bridge Street (Lodges such as the MUIOOF played an important role in uniting I residents equally in brotherhood) SHOW GROUND - Grands tand (which was built wi.th materials donated I from the Hoskins complex), Recreational Hall and bui.ldings and sheds in the grounds including Band Rotunda Small community halls and church buildings scattered around the I Lithgow Valley form a viable integral part of the various communities in the local government area and where possible I should be retained I COMMERCIAL SITES Main Street from Bridge Street 'GO Lithgow' Street, both sides. This area contains sufficient numbers of undisturbed faca.des I indicating the commercial importance of the city in the 1890's.