Maitland’s historic Jewish cemetery would be nominated for a place on the state heritage register under plans for the site’s future care.
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Heritage listing is one of the goals of a conservation management plan that will be put before Maitland City Council tomorrow night.
“Implementation of the plan by council will assist in the site’s long-term protection,” council heritage officer Clare James said in a report to council.
The cemetery has already been noted as a site of state heritage significance and further investigations point to it being a fitting addition to the heritage register, which would make it eligible for state funds.
“This was the first officially established Jewish cemetery in NSW,” Ms James said.
“Maitland Jewish Cemetery is the largest remaining cemetery of the three [strictly Jewish cemeteries in NSW] and the most intact separate Jewish burial ground in the state.”
The draft plan was met with interest, and has been viewed more than 150 times since council put it on public exhibition.
Another area of the cemetery’s plan of management is to recognise the research conducted by the Friends of Maitland Jewish Cemetery and help them with future work.
If the draft is approved tomorrow night a memorandum of understanding will be established between the group and council.
“The memorandum of understanding would consider funding, cemetery conservation and maintenance, and any other associated activities relating to the site,” Ms James said.
“It should be noted that this is the first friends of a cemetery to have been established in the Maitland local government area.”
The plan also sets out the need to re-establish a white picket fence at the cemetery, as seen in historical photographs, which has since disappeared.
The plan also recommends that council acquire the road from the state government to ensure future access and that the road be named after an appropriate Jewish figure.
A small but legible sign would also be erected pointing to the cemetery from Louth Park Road.