Known then as Wallis Plains, the establishment and success of the shipping trade along the river resulted in the expansion of the district as land grants were allocated amongst the settlers, many of whom were Jewish entrepreneurs.

In keeping with Jewish tradition, a parcel of land was acquired in 1846 beyond the outskirts of the township and in an area isolated from neighbouring residences.

A cottage structure was established on the site to receive the dead and where rites and prayer rituals could take place prior to interment.

[1] Located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the centre of Maitland, the Jewish Cemetery is sited at the end of a narrow unsealed laneway in a rural field landscape.

In keeping with Jewish tradition, the cemetery was established beyond the outskirts of the township and the graves positioned to face west away from the neighbouring settlement and its residents.

Dating mostly from 1849 to 1909, the Hebrew and English inscriptions may have faded with age but the form and ornamentation of the monuments indicate the importance of adherence to the Jewish faith during the interment process.

The cemetery is a physical record of the Jewish community in the region and its survival demonstrates the ongoing public interest and connection to the place.

The location of the cemetery, the positioning of the grave sites and the form, design and style of the monuments demonstrate the community's adherence to their faith and the importance of observing traditions when laying their dead to rest.

[1] Maitland Jewish Cemetery was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 7 March 2014 having satisfied the following criteria.

The location of the cemetery, positioning of the grave sites and the design and ornamentation of the headstones also reflects the traditions of the Orthodox Jewish faith and the community's commitment to their religion.

[1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

A discreetly located site, the cemetery contains a number of modest monuments that demonstrates "that, in death, all are equal and ostentation is out of place".

[1] The cemetery is a physical record of the Jewish community in the region and its survival demonstrates the ongoing public interest and connection to the place.

Although the remaining monuments are in a varying state of repair, further analysis of their form, design style and use of liturgical symbolism could provide further insight into how death was celebrated by the Orthodox Jewish faith.

[1] Cemeteries are also a valuable genealogical resource and provide evidence of the social history of the Jewish faith in the Hunter Valley region.

The design and form of the monuments reflect the masonry practices of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the liturgical inscriptions demonstrate the traditional symbolism of the Jewish faith.