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Last Saturday afternoon, I attended the screening of a documentary called True Grit in Lithgow. The screening was held at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum, and focuses on the efforts of the museum’s dedicated volunteers to save the museum, which is under threat of closure.

The factory opened in 1912, and whilst its primary purpose was armament production, commercial work was also important. This included handcuffs, golf clubs and sewing machines. This helped to diversify production as the workforce reduced, and technological changes had an impact. There is an overview of the site’s history and museum from a previous visit here.

The significance of the factory for generations of families in Lithgow cannot be understated, and it was an integral part of the community. An example of this was the factory whistle. It was the siren song at multiple times of the day: 6 am as a wake-up call; 6.55 am to remind the factory workers that work was about to commence, and 3.45 pm to “let the wives know their husbands would be heading home soon”. The steam whistle was gifted by Pratt and Whitney, who designed the buildings and tools in the factory.

Short interviews with people who had worked in the factory were included in the film. This was often a family affair: some parents met whilst working at the factory, others had relatives who were employed at the site, or this was where their working life began with a trade apprenticeship. It was heartwarming hearing the audience cheer and call out when their friends and family appeared on the screen, a sense of shared appreciation filling the room.

In August 2024, there was a break-in at the museum with 27 handguns stolen. The antique guns had an estimated value of $200,000, and the theft triggered a series of events that resulted in the temporary closure of the museum. Security upgrades were required, but approval for the upgrades has not been forthcoming from Thales, the landlord. There is a dedicated website outlining the history and challenges facing the ongoing viability of the museum, and steps that can be taken to provide support.

The documentary was created by Nick Agafonoff, a Blue Mountains videographer. After the screening ended, Nick briefly explained his family’s connection with the museum, and the profound impact it had on his son, who is a volunteer.

There was standing room only at the session that I attended, with an extra viewing planned straight afterwards to allow the people who couldn’t fit into the room to see it as well. It was a promising indication of the level of support, both locally and further afield, to keep this valuable historical museum, and the stories of those who worked and lived in the town, alive and accessible.

Watching the documentary, True Grit, helped to share the importance of this museum in the place of the Lithgow community, and of Australian industrial and social heritage. The passion of the volunteers is remarkable, as is their commitment to save this museum of history, industry, and innovation.

True Grit can be watched here, and more information can be found on the Museum website or the Save Lithgow SAF Museum page.

Photo: Lithgow Small Arms Factory