Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park — Attraction in State Mine Gully

I must admit I was a bit sceptical when my wife organised a family trip to a mining museum seeing as nobody in my family has ever shown any interest in anything mining-related. However, it turned out to be an extremely entertaining and educational visit. The kids had a great time climbing on various mining vehicles and checking out the exhibits. The site was an operational mine, and whilst the mine shaft itself has long been sealed, all of the buildings are still there, and most are in their original configuration, so it's easy to imagine what it was like when it was operating. Our guide, Barry, was a former coal miner so was able to provide interesting anecdotes from his experience, and was great at explaining it to the kids. It cost $12 which was well worth it. We made the mistake of arriving an hour before it closed; really you need 2-3 hours to comfortably see everything. Tip: bring a change of clothes for the kids so they can climb on and sit in the mining vehicles without having to worry about what is about to happen to the back...

A great coal mining museum. Easy to find and sealed roads right to museum car parking area. We were greeted by the friendly museum guide at the old office building where he gave us a quick verbal tour of the site. The office building has many displays in each of the rooms, some of which are videos showing what underground working conditions were like in the mines. The bath building contains larger mining equipment both old and new. A side room, where the mine workers once showered after ending their shift, is a fanatic visual display. The wife of one of the miners is brought to life in a holographic story telling of a tragic incident as she walks amongst items in the display. Amazing when she lights the miners cap lamp.

Outside the buildings there is mining equipment of all description right up to the poppet head standing over the now sealed No: 2 shaft into the mine.

Great value. I would recommend you get here when the gates open so you have ample time to look at all...

Hmmm...I am sorry. Not feeling it. I hate giving bad reviews, but like the rest of Lithgo, it could be good. It should be good, I mean it has all the ingredients, but it is just...run down.

This "attraction" was not open when I got there (how dare they right!?😜) On a public holiday no less?

Some interesting plaques but it is more "scrapyard" than mine/train yard from what I could see.

Couple of work men doing god-knows-what and others(I think visitors) walking around looking lost.

Felt like a scene from the walking dead..when the survivors find like a new place and is trying to see what is what.

I hope I am wrong and it was just an "off day"...a very, very rough "off day". 😕.

I did not wait to see if any zombies shows up, but I wouldn't have been surprised...