NSW petition launched to strip museum site ownership from Thales Australia

The parliamentary petition calls on NSW residents to urge the government to facilitate site ownership of the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum, located in Lithgow, NSW, from the current site controller Thales Australia, a subsidiary of the French defence technology conglomerate Thales Group.

The Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum is considered historically important because of its expansive collection of Australian and international production firearms, defence industry prototypes and experimental models of rifles, pistols and heavier military equipment.

In addition, the collection has reportedly been used as a resource by the global firearms research community, Australian Crime Commission, police, ballistics, and forensics experts to enhance knowledge databases, solve crimes, and support court cases.

The petition alleges that the current long-term lease on offer with Thales Australia does not effectively preserve the museum’s collection of historical defence equipment or ensure the site’s survival for future generations.

In addition the petition rallies against alleged clauses in the current lease which “retain approval process for all works” and reserve the right to “evict the museum and repurpose or demolish the buildings”.

“The national and international significance of the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum has been recognised in NSW Parliament by the Minister for Tourism and the Arts,” the petition stated.

“The museum is at imminent risk of closure due to restrictions imposed by its landlord, preventing critical security upgrades and repairs, following a break-in and theft in August 2024.

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“Thus, the museum is forced to pay thousands each week for security guards. This could quickly extinguish remaining funds, which would result in relinquishment of licences, leaving the museum no choice but to dispose of the precious collection.

“The French multinational Thales Group, the museum’s landlord, issued a draft contract, in 2022, to sell the museum its integral heritage site for a nominal price. This has now been downgraded to an offer of a long-term lease, retaining the obstructive approval process for all works, and disturbingly, the right to evict the museum and repurpose or demolish the buildings. The current expert volunteers want to rebuild the museum and secure its future by transitioning to salaried staff. The autonomy of site ownership, as promised by Thales, is critical to this aim.

“The undersigned petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the government to support and expedite a requested heritage order (request number 38145) and facilitate the purchase of this important site by the museum, allowing it to complete the essential work to retain its licences, to reopen, and to continue, unhindered, with its exciting future plans.”

On 25 August this year, the site sustained significant damage requiring immediate repair after three men broke into the museum and stole 27 historically important handguns (deactivated) including Desert Storm and World War II commemorative pistols.

The individuals were later charged by Drug and Firearms Squad detectives, with assistance from Chifley and South Coast Police districts working under Strike Force Ajo. As many as 13 of the stolen handguns were recovered at that time.

“Without secure site ownership, the museum will not survive. We’re calling on NSW residents to sign our parliamentary petition, urging the government to facilitate site ownership for the museum, preserving this vital part of Australian history and ensuring it thrives for future generations,” the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum said in a statement.

“Without action, the museum and its legacy could be lost forever ... We’ve been focused on the urgent work of saving the museum and securing its future.”

Current site owner and defence company Thales Australia has previously outlined online that the entire Lithgow Small Arms Factory site has “played a critical role in providing the Australian Defence Force with cutting edge, locally made technology for more than 110 years”.

“We recognise the museum’s significance to Australia’s defence industrial heritage and to the Lithgow community; we are committed to supporting its ongoing operation,” a company statement said in November this year.

“To this end, Thales Australia has communicated to the museum its willingness to commit to a long-term lease arrangement which will ensure the museum’s enduring presence as part of the Lithgow Small Arms Facility.

“Thales Australia is aware of the necessary security upgrades to the museum proposed and confirmed by NSW Police following the recent break-in of August 2024. A long-term lease will allow for the museum to make not only the necessary security upgrades but other upgrades that the museum has budgeted for in their funds.

“Our primary concern is the security of the Lithgow community and the Lithgow Small Arms Facility, which is a critical defence asset. Thales Australia is committed to working with the museum’s board and volunteers, as well as NSW Police and the Lithgow community to assist them in putting in place appropriate arrangements that will see the museum reopened as soon as possible.”