A historic World War II anti-aircraft gun display in Lithgow, New South Wales, has been enclosed by temporary fencing after a visitor was injured and subsequently filed an insurance claim.
The Lithgow City Council implemented the fencing as a precautionary measure, following a risk assessment that highlighted the need for improved public safety at the site.
In an ABC report, Mayor Cassandra Coleman explained that the council’s actions were guided by the findings of the safety review, which was initiated after the incident.
She noted the importance of developing a long-term safety strategy to prevent further injuries and address insurance concerns.
“We needed to look at fencing and a long-term safety plan to make sure that nobody gets hurt,” she said, as reported by ABC.
The anti-aircraft guns, which have been a fixture in Lithgow since 1942, were originally installed to safeguard the region’s coal mines, ammunition depots, and the Small Arms Factory – key assets during the war.
The installation followed the escalation of hostilities in the Pacific, with Lithgow playing a strategic role in national defence.
Kerry Guerin – representing the Small Arms Factory Museum – highlighted the city’s wartime significance, stating that the gun batteries were intended to deter aerial attacks and protect vital infrastructure.
The guns, capable of firing substantial quantities of explosive shells, were part of a broader network of defensive measures in the area, including additional emplacements and decoy sites.
Recognised as the only inland anti-aircraft gun station of its kind in New South Wales, the Lithgow site was added to the state heritage register in 2011.
The fencing has raised concerns among historians and community members about the site’s accessibility and educational value.
Guerin expressed reservations about the impact of restricted access, suggesting that safety measures should balance public protection with the need to preserve the site’s historical significance.
“Anytime you start putting fencing around something, you lose its significance,” he said, as reported by ABC. “It has got to be safe for the public, but it also has to be accessible and showing its history.”
Mayor Coleman confirmed that there are no plans to remove the guns from their current location.
“There is a plan to at least allow access in a safe way, so we will work through what we can and can’t do in consultation with the community,” she said. “The passion about this gun emplacement is quite paramount … it has been there for 80 years and people have a deep affection for it.”
At this stage, no specific timeline has been set for the removal of the fencing, as the council continues to assess design solutions that meet both safety and insurance requirements.
