About 3am Saturday emergency services were called to the main chapel at the Sisters of St Joseph’s Convent on the New England Highway, Lochinvar to reports of a fire.

Firefighters attended and extinguished the blaze, but there was significant internal damage.

A crime scene was established and forensically examined.

Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District are investigating the fire as suspicious and are appealing for public information.

Anyone with information, or anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area, is urged to contact police via Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information will be treated in strict confidence.

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