Local Wild Stories

Discover the rich wild food heritage of the Seven Valleys at the Local Wild Stories Exhibition – a celebration of the foraging traditions, childhood memories, and community history that have shaped life in Lithgow for generations. Based on real stories shared by local residents, the exhibition brings together heartfelt recollections of blackberry picking, mushroom gathering, rabbit trapping, fishing, and preserving homemade jams, chutneys, and cordials. These stories paint a vivid picture of how families relied on the land, learned resourcefulness, and connected through food.

Visitors will also uncover the fascinating history of Lithgow’s once-thriving blackberry economy, including accounts of local pickers, buyers, and the supply chain that linked the valley to the iconic IXL jam factory in Sydney. These historical insights highlight how foraging contributed to both livelihoods and local identity.