Lithgow Anti-aircraft gun emplacements and Bunkers in the mountains surrounding Lithgow, NSW during WW2

LITHGOW ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN EMPLACEMENTS AND BUNKERS
IN THE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING LITHGOW, NSW
DURING WW2

In the mountains around Lithgow, there were two real anti-aircraft gun emplacements and another three dummy anti-aircraft gun emplacements that were used for the defence of the Lithgow small arms factory.

Photo:- Peter Flockart

Showing the position and effective range of "A" Battery at Bowenfels and "B" Battery at Clwydd

Photo:- Peter Flockart

3.7" Heavy Anti-aircraft gun on display at the former "A" Battery at Bowenfels

Photo:- Peter Flockart

Closeup of the 3.7" Heavy Anti-aircraft gun on display at the former "A" Battery at Bowenfels

Photo:- Peter Flockart

Command Post entrance and No. 1 Heavy Anti-aircraft gun site for "A" Battery at Bowenfels

Photo:- Peter Flockart

Explanation of how the Predictor works

Photo:- Peter Flockart

Aircraft Recognition Chart for Volunteer Defence Corps personnel who would have been manning "A" Battery at Bowenfels

The bunkers of one of the gun stations are located off the Bells Line of Road on the north eastern side of the road opposite the old unsurfaced Lithgow airstrip. They are built of concrete, but have been badly chipped away by vandals over the years. If you explore any of these bunkers and AA Gun sites you need to take great care as some of them are apparently very near to disused mine shafts that have not been capped.

The general location of the bunkers is just over one kilometre from the top of Scenic Hill and about one hundred metres off to the left hand side of the road as you are heading towards Sydney from Lithgow. There is a broad gravelled area where vehicles stop, and the old airstrip is clearly visible across the road on the top of the ridge.

The Lithgow anti-aircraft battery site is a very short drive from the Clarence Railway tunnel which was used to store Chemical Weapons during WW2.

Photo:- Geoff Russell