It is popularly believed that Judaism is a religion that rejects visual arts and prohibits the creation of sculpted designs. Not surprisingly, nineteenth-century Australia is not best known for its Jewish art. Yet, as revealed in the Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney, an important visual heritage survives and is marked by fine Judaica objects, artworks, and unique synagogue architecture.In 2024, when the Sydney Jewish community commemorates two milestones, it is timely to explore its history through the visual heritage. In 1844, 180 years ago, the emerging Sydney Jewish congregation consecrated the first synagogue designed and built in Australia. Three decades later, in 1874, architect Thomas Rowe won the design competition with his bold vision for the new Great Synagogue, one of the most admired Victorian buildings in Australia. These significant events prepared the way for the future development of a distinct Australian Jewish visual identity.For the first time, the book Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney brings to light the lesser known stories of long lost synagogues and the hidden past of art, artefacts, and architecture. Richly illustrated, this book reveals the presence of a Jewish cultural heritage and important synagogue architecture in Sydney. Included are Jewish ritual objects, or Judaica, such as silver Torah ornaments, testimonials, gold embroidery textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and rarely published nineteenth-century portraits and archival Jewish community records.