Heritage listing for cemetery
The Maitland Jewish Cemetery will be formally listed in the NSW State Heritage Register next month.
Robyn Parker, the Minister for Heritage, will make the announcement during a day dedicated to the Cemetery on which visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the burial ground and experience a tour lead by stonemason Sach Killam whose team has recently completed a project restring and repairing 27 of the 46 headstones.
Gary Luke of the Friends of the Maitland Jewish Cemetery will talk about the cultural values of the site before joining a tour of the town’s synagogue building.
Maitland Cemetery is the earliest and largest dedicated Jewish burial site in NSW. 53 burials have been recorded there most taking place between 1849 and 1909 and 46 of the headstones are original.
Joe Eisenberg, the Cultural Director of the Maitland Regional Art Gallery will join Janis Wilton author of Maitland Jewish Cemetery: A Monument to Dreams and Deeds in delving into the history of the site.
The announcement and tours will be held on Sunday, March 9.
