Visitors were invited to explore the graves of the "big wigs" of Goulburn such as Thomas Lee, who built St Saviour's Church Hall, and the first home-owner in Hurst Street.

The group offered a self-guided tour brochure for St Saviour's Cemetery as well as detailed booklets.

"It's good to have the book so you can go home and have a read and come back again in your own time," said one visitor touring the cemetery.

Bags and apple relish, made from apples growing nearby one of the cemeteries, were also for sale on the day.

Heather West, member of Friends of Goulburn Historic Cemeteries, said any profits went towards the cemeteries' maintenance, including payment for weed killer and lawn mower fuel.

Restoration of the old cemeteries has been going on for more than two years now.

Ms West said it was thanks to the The Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra, whose members originally uncovered many of the headstones 50 years ago, that the restoration began at all.

"If it wasn't for them we probably would have never found many of the graves," she said.

Since then a local surveyor has created a map of St Saviour's cemetery using a drone to mark out each headstone.

Friends of Goulburn Historic Cemeteries is hoping to complete a similar map for Mortis Street Cemetery for next year's open days.

The group marked significant graves over the weekend with different coloured balloons based on different factors such as religion.

Ms West said Mortis Street Cemetery consisted of three distinct religious groups: Presbyterians, Methodists and Catholics. St Saviour's on the other hand is mainly Church of England.

Locals were also invited to share their own stories, or any information they had, regarding people they knew who were buried in the cemeteries.

Ms West said the group was always looking for new stories and volunteers to expand upon the work they are currently doing.

She said they faced many challenges including rabbits, water runoff and headstones that had already fallen over and were impossible to restore.

"Many records have been lost and some of the original wooden crosses have likely deteriorated," she said.

Currently, the group is working on poisoning the weeds at each of the graves, leveling the soil, covering the ground in a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard and placing a layer of bark chip on top.

"It's a lengthy process and we're always looking for an extra helping hand," Ms West said.

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