• Introduction
• History

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In 1894, 12 Jewish businesses were listed in Newport. Several were pawnbrokers, there were jewellers, furniture makers and furnishers, a piano and music salesman, a clothier.

The OABSA House Jewish Convalescent home (part of a national organisation) was established in Newport, probably in the 20th century.

During World War I, the community gave shelter to Belgian refugees and many served their country and four community members gave their lives. After the war the community expanded and the Queen's Hill Building was opened, as a Hebrew School and community centre.

The Jewish population of Newport was at its height in 1934, when there were 250 Jewish residents, but because of the Great Depression, thereafter it inexorably declined, through death and people moving away. The decline of the docks in particular were probably a large factor even before the Great Depression, was probably an important factor and local unemployment peaked at 34.7% in 1930, which would have impacted incomes from the local shop-based Jewish economy.
During the Second World War four of members of the community gave their lives in service to the nation and many others served, and the community also gave shelter to refugees from Hitler's Germany. Fourteen years old Myrtle Phillips was killed in an air raid and her (brother?) Malcolm Phillips died trying to rescue her. After the War, the decline of the community continued.

1934 250 (The Jewish Year Book 1935)
1945 180 (The Jewish Year Book 1946)
1990 110 (The Jewish Year Book 1991)
2003 39 (The Jewish Year Book 2004)