Lithgow Ironfest

The brainchild of artist/sculptor and present festival director, Macgregor Ross, Ironfest was first held in April of 2000 to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the birth of steel in Australia, in Lithgow, New South Wales.

Comprising of an exhibition of metal sculpture, paintings and drawings accompanied by blacksmith demonstrations by artist blacksmith Harry Piers, and metal music by local band, ‘The Mullpigs; around 25 artists participated and approximately 400 visitors attended.

As they say: ‘from small things, big things grow’, and the following year Ironfest doubled in size.Indeed, since its humble beginnings, Ironfest has been one of the fastest growing events in regional Australia.

In 2002 & 2003 it was held at the State Mine Museum, before moving in 2004 to its current home at the Lithgow Showground.

Each year it has grown on average by 20% both in terms of participants and visitors. In 2008 it involved close to 700 participants and attracted over 10,000 visitors in 2008.

Two major historical re-enactment events take place as part of Ironfest: the St George's Day Jousting Tournament and the colonial battle re-enactment event called the Battle of Lithgow

Ironfest is a registered incorporated not for profit association and supported by Tourism NSW, Lithgow Council, the Emirates, Delta Electricity, the CFMEU and numerous local businesses.