This community project began at a moment of frustration. With the closure of Mount Victoria Pass and ongoing issues around the Convict’s Bridge, local residents found themselves navigating delays, detours, and a growing sense of disruption. But out of that frustration came a different idea: what if, instead of telling people to slow down, we gave them a reason to?
The result is a series of posters that speak not with authority, but with warmth.
“THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE – PLEASE SLOW DOWN – AND ENJOY OUR TOWN.” It’s a message that feels less like an instruction and more like an invitation, one that reflects the character of Lithgow itself.
The design draws deeply from the town’s industrial past. Rusted tones, weathered textures, and strong, heritage-inspired typography echo the history of steel, railways, and mining that shaped the region. The posters resemble something you might have seen decades ago, not polished or corporate, but grounded, honest, and familiar.
At the centre of each poster is a single image. No collage, no distraction, just a moment. A train crossing the valley, a quiet street at sunset, the glow of the Blast Furnace against the night sky. Each photograph invites you to pause, to notice, to look a little longer.
All of the images were created by a local artist, capturing Lithgow from within rather than from the outside. They reflect the everyday beauty of the town, not staged or idealised, but real. This was an important part of the project: to ensure that the story being told truly belongs to the community.
Together, the posters form a kind of visual journey. As you move through the town, each one reveals a different side of Lithgow, its history, its landscape, its quiet moments. They don’t just guide you through the streets; they encourage you to experience them.
Because in Lithgow, slowing down isn’t just about safety.
It’s about connection.
At its core, the project is about shifting perception. Instead of simply asking people to slow down, it offers a reason:
Lithgow is a place worth stopping for.
Big thanks to Timberfix for their generous support in making up the signs, and also to Chris Wade at PCYC, who kindly offered to handle the administration and take payments for the signs from the community that wanted to support the project.
