Maitland City Council has proposed setting up heritage walks around the city as part of its Interpretation Master Plan designed to renew interest in the heart of Maitland.

Pavement markers on the ground would guide walkers around the city and highlight historical sites.

The markers would be split into four key themes including the river speaks, heroes and villains, poverty and prosperity and architecture.

Heritage officer Clare James said market analysis showed themed walking trails would engage people from a range of different demographics.

Ms James said walks were popular attractions for people visiting friends and family, a group which made up more than half leisure visitors to Maitland.

“The walks are intended to be developed utilising technologies that engage a wide audience,” she said.

“The interpretation will be designed to enable residents and visitors to engage with a single site within the walks or undertake the full walk, depending on their level of interest.”

Ms James said the four key themes chosen would extend beyond the walks. 

Each attraction adopted from the master plan would fit into one of the categories.

“The master plan considered all aspects of the city’s history and developed four themes which, when explained, leave impressions far greater than fact learning alone can achieve,” she said.

“It is also important to remember that heritage includes both 

tangible and intangible items, so it is more than the buildings that line our streets, it could, for example, be about events, or cultural and social customs.”

Council invites you to visit www.maitlandyoursay.com.au to tell them what you think about the master plan, which is on public exhibition.

See tomorrow’s Mercury for the final instalment of our in-depth look into the plan.