Wollongong Heritage and Stories

This air raid siren was used at Lysaght’s steel manufacturing works in Port Kembla during World War Two. 

An air raid siren, officially known as a civil defence siren, generates its high pitched alarming sound by spinning a slotted chopper wheel to interrupt a stream of air at a regular rate. 

The air raid siren was particularly important at a site such as Lysaght’s as they were manufacturing the Owen gun for use in the war effort and could therefore be a target of enemy attack.

This air raid siren was made in England by General Electric Company.