The Friends of Maitland Jewish Cemetery, along with Maitland City Council, will host an information day in February to share the history of the cemetery with the public.

“We want to invite people to learn more about the cemetery, its history, cultural value and also the conservation methods used at the site,” council’s heritage officer Clare James said.

“This cemetery is also tucked away so it’s not immediately and obviously accessible to people, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to show ­people where it is and to showcase the work we’ve been able to achieve over the past couple of years.”

The information day follows the first phase of major work to be ­completed at the cemetery.

Non-Jewish committee members Ruth and Ron King said the information day was an important step in showcasing the work completed at the site.

“We’re just really interested in the historical side of the cemetery,” Mrs King, of Tenambit, said.

“I actually go around photographing and documenting cemeteries all over the state, so I guess this is a ­passion of mine, because unless this sort of thing is documented then ­everything will be lost.”

The Maitland Jewish community acquired the cemetery in 1846 and it is one of only two provincial cemeteries in NSW.

It is completely Jewish, with most of the stones inscribed in Hebrew.

The site ceased to function as a cemetery in the mid-1930s.

The public information day will include talks from historian Dr Janis Wilton, committee member Gary Luke and heritage stonemason Sach Killam. 

The event will be held at Maitland Jewish Cemetery on February 16 from 9am to noon.