Goulburn Jewish Cemetery

Visited 14th October 2022.

Please note, you will need to bring your own water for hand washing - there is no tap.

I learned of this place through following stories of early Australian Jewish life, after reading about Sarah Moses (buried in a Christian graveyard in Parramatta), the once wife of pardoned Hobart convict Moses Moses. It seemed worthy of a visit, if only to be sure it wasn’t suffering disrespect.

Standing graves show signs of being visited, it’s good to see. There is zero vandalism, a great relief. The gates close properly and wire fences are sound.

Council upkeep is reasonable, at present heavy rainfalls have softened the soil and their mowing equipment has rutted/muddied the ground in places. There’s also an outbreak of iron bacteria, this will resolve as the climate dries up again. The elderly conifers are struggling with such wet soil, and it may finish some of them off.

I was visited by a trio of small friendly terriers from the property across the road, desperate for a pat and a fuss. They weren’t pushy to the point of getting underfoot, though.

Obviously not somewhere you’d go for a picnic, but if you have historical interest or family connections, it’s quite worthwhile to visit. Credit to the Cemetery Trust and local council for working together in its preservation.