Maitland Synagogue (former)

Item details


Name of item:	Maitland Synagogue (former)
Other name/s:	Synagogue, The Old Synagogue
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Religion
Category:	Synagogue
Location:	Lat: -32.7340058846 Long: 151.5532049760
Primary address:	47 Church Street, Maitland, NSW 2320
Parish:	Maitland
County:	Northumberland
Local govt. area:	Maitland
Local Aboriginal Land Council:	Mindaribba

Property description

Lot/Volume Code	Lot/Volume Number	Section Number	Plan/Folio Code	Plan/Folio Number
LOT	10		DP	617237

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
47 Church Street	Maitland	Maitland	Maitland	Northumberland	Primary Address
Banfield Street	Maitland	Maitland	Maitland	Northumberland	Alternate Address

Owner/s

Organisation Name	Owner Category	Date Ownership Updated
Fernlic Pty Ltd	Private

Statement of significance:


	The Maitland Synagogue is of historic significance in its associations with the strong Jewish community in the area and their contribution to the success and importance of Maitland as a trading centre in the latter half of the 19th century. The Synagogue is an important element in the streetscape of Church Street. (Heritage Office file)
	Date significance updated: 02 Feb 00
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	John W Pender
Builder/Maker:	James Pritchard
Construction years:	1879-
Physical description:	The building is a small symmetrical solid brick structure with slate roof and high eliptical lath and plaster ceiling. It was designed in the Romanesque Revival style and displays elaborate cement-rendered details, including corbelled aracades and columns, quatrefoil windows and round-headed arches. The interior retains its original cedar windows which are still in good condition, although parts of the walls have been altered by successive owners. It is approximately 8m by 13m in size. (Branch Managers Report 1983)
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Physical condition is good.
	Date condition updated:15 Oct 99
Modifications and dates:	1879 - constructed c. 1936 - flooring replaced and gallery and Ark removed c. 1985 converetd into Credit Union


Current use:	Credit Union
Former use:	Place of Worship, school, Masonic Lodge, entertainment hall, motor repair

History

Historical notes:

For at least the first half of the 150 years' history of Maitland, the Jewish community provided a strong contribution to the development of the district. As number of Jewish settlers increased it was decided to build a Synagogue, and land was purchased in Church Street.

J.W Pender prepared alternative designs for the Synagogue in 1878, and the present building was the less elaborate and probably the less expensive of the two. John Pender was the founder of the architectural practice known as Pender & Associates.

The foundation stone was laid by L.W. Levy on 24 February 1879, when Morris Benjamin was president of the congregation. The building was constructed in 1879 by James Pritchard to meet the needs of the then substantial Jewish community.

The synagogue was consecrated on 7 September 1879 by the Rev A.B. Davis of the great Synagogue, together with the Rev S.A. Goldstein, Maitland's Minister. However during the 1890s depression, the Jewish community declined in numbers to the point when in 1898, the Synagogue was finally closed. (Australian Jewish Times, pp2, 1982)

When it ceased to operate as a synagogue, the building became a private school, and then a Masonic lodge. Circa 1936 the original flooring was replaced with narrow, secret nailed boards more suitable for dancing than the original wide, shot-edge boards and was used during World War II as a dance hall to entertain soldiers. About this time the gallery and the Ark were demolished.

In 1946 a large opening was made in the east wall and timber framed galvanised iron additions were made to the east and south sides. (Pender & Associates P/L undated) (Branch Managers Report 29/10/1981 & 17/01/1985)

The building has been used as a motor vehicle repair shop.

In 1981 a s.130 Order was placed over the building as a result of its poor condition and the possibility of demolition. In 1983 an Interim Conservation Order was placed over the building. The then owners of the property advised that they wished to demolish the building in order to redevelop the site. The building was not considered beyond restoration and was in a good position for a sympathetic use. In 1985 a Permanent Conservation Order was placed over the building.

In 1986 the building was converted into a Credit Union which is its current use.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent	Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples.	(none)-
6. Educating-Educating	Education-Activities associated with teaching and learning by children and adults, formally and informally.	(none)-
7. Governing-Governing	Defence-Activities associated with defending places from hostile takeover and occupation	Involvement with the Second World War-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	(none)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Religion-Activities associated with particular systems of faith and worship	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	Much of the success and importance of Maitland as a trading centre in the latter half of the 19th century can be attributed to the strong Jewish community. The Maitland Synagogue was built two years after the erection of the Great Synagogue in Sydney and is the oldest surviving example outside Sydney of the very few synagogues built within New South Wales. (Heritage Office File)
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The Synagogue is an important element in the streetscape of Church Street, complementing other heritage items including Grossman House, Brough House and the splendid Blacket Church, St Mary’s and its Rectory. (Heritage Office File)
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act	Description	Title	Comments	Action date
57(2)	Exemption to allow work	Standard Exemptions	HERITAGE ACT 1977 ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) TO GRANT STANDARD EXEMPTIONS FROM APPROVAL I, Penny Sharpe, the Minister for Heritage, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales and under section 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977: revoke the order made on 2 June 2022 and published in the Government Gazette Number 262 of 17 June 2022; and grant an exemption from section 57(1) of the Act in respect of the engaging in or carrying out the class of activities described in clause 2 Schedule A in such circumstances specified by the relevant standards in clause 2 Schedule A and General Conditions in clause 3 Schedule A. This Order takes effect on the date it is published in the NSW Government Gazette. Dated this 29th day of October 2025 The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC Minister for Heritage For more information on standard exemptions click on the link below.	Nov 7 2025

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register		00376	02 Apr 99	27	1546
Heritage Act - Permanent Conservation Order - former		00376	12 Sep 86	142

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Tourism		2007	Maitland Heritage Walk (Central Precinct)	View detail
Tourism	Attraction Homepage	2007	Maitland Heritage Walk (Central Precinct)	View detail

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Heritage NSW
Database number:	5045591
File number:	S90/06274 & HC 32932

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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