Origin...
Opened to the public in October of 1996, the L.S.A. Museum displays items of historical, cultural, military and commercial nature from the Small Arms Factory. Previously an in-house reference collection, in 1999 Australian Defence Industries made a gift of their historic collection of some 1,000 service firearms, edged weapons and associated items to the volunteer-run Lithgow Small Arms Museum Inc. New displays are ongoing and more recently include many handguns, rifles and other items from the Ron Hayes collection. This superb collection, probably one of the finest privately-owned pistol collections in the southern hemisphere, was gifted to the Lithgow Small Arms Museum at the official launch of the new 'Hayes Handgun Omnibus' book on 29th July 2007.

Future?...
ADI is now about to re-develop the site and much of the old factory will be demolished, turned into a light industrial park. As the museum is situated on the prime part of the complex on Methven St., facing Ordnance Ave., the museum has only a few more years lease of the site and original factory buildings. ADI has indicated they are prepared to sell the site to SAF Museum Inc., but expect a market value price. Some funds have been accumulated by the Committee, but to make a realistic offer to ADI, further support of the community, service organizations and individual collectors is urgently needed.
 

How can you help?...
This financial support is being effected in the form of a donation or a pledge, the pledge to be redeemed at a later date. Donors will be acknowledged thus...
Gold Sponsors: Gifts or Pledges of AUD$1,000 or more... Names to be incorporated on a plaque in the museum foyer, together with a Certificate of Appreciation.
Silver Sponsors: Gifts of Pledges of AUD$100 - $999... Names entered in a Donor Register and placed on display in the museum, together with a Certificate of Appreciation.
Bronze Sponsors: Gifts from AUD$10 - $99... Certificate of Appreciation.

As the Lithgow Small Arms Museum is a deductible gift recipient under the Income Tax Assessment Act, all donations over $2 are tax deductible. Donor - Pledge forms are available from the Treasurer, Graham Dixon, tel. 02 6351 3695 (+61 2 6351 3695) or write to Lithgow Small Arms Museum Inc., PO Box 564, Lithgow, NSW 2790, Australia. Or print out... L.S.A. MUSEUM DONATION / PLEDGE
 

Other fund raising activities are being organized by the Committee although these are not likely to generate the money required to preserve this historic site and the one-of-a-kind collection housed there. For students and researchers, a library, factory records, photographs and such facilities are being established for visitor access. See 'Collector' annual #22 (current issue) for a colour spread (pp. 98-99) on this museum. 'Collector' annual #23 also has a 2-page colour spread (pp110-111) showing some recent items from the Ron Hayes collection presently on display at the LSA Museum too. This handgun display is also being regularly updated.
Memberships will likely be open to interested collectors and historians in future, with a periodical newsletter, journal and factory log of ongoing serial number lists of military and sporting firearms produced at the factory. Join us in this expanding horizon of collecting as we expand our facilities to members and visitors.
 

     Lithgow Small Arms Museum Inc.                                                              Location: Methven St. opposite Ordnance Ave.,
     P.O. Box 564                                                                                                         Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia
     LITHGOW                                                                                                              Tel: 02 6351 4452 (int. +61 2 6351 4452)
     N.S.W. 2790                                                                                                          Fax: 02 6351 4511 (int. +61 2 6351 4511)