Freemasons Lodge Hall

Values

the place is a fine representative example of the Inter-War Beaux-Arts style hall designed by architect George Herbert Parry.

the place is a local landmark and contributes to the local community’s sense of place.

the place demonstrates the social importance of the Freemasonry movement from the Inter-War period to the present day.

Physical Description

The Freemasons Lodge Hall consists of a two-storey main hall and an adjoining single storey Lesser Hall. The building is a dominant feature Alma Road, set among residences, is considered a local landmark by the community. The symmetry of the main hall is offset by the attached Lesser Hall.

The main hall is constructed of red brick with rusticated stucco pilasters and simple pediment. The central doorway is surrounded by a rusticated stucco portal with its own pediment.

The Lesser Hall has a fully rendered façade, with horizontal striped detailing and a simple pediment with the words ‘Lesser Hall’ moulded into the decoration.

History

After the Swan River Colony was established in 1829, settlement by the colonists began in and around the Perth area. The area to the north of the Perth was part wetlands stretching 50 or 60 miles northwards and was not considered an ideal site for settlement. However, despite the swampy conditions, by the early 1830s land to the north of Perth was beginning to be being settled, and land had been granted to individuals such as John H. Monger, William Leeder, Thomas Mews. Drainage of the lakes close to the city begun in the 1840s freeing up additional land for settlement.

With the arrival of convicts from the 1850s, infrastructure and public works increased and improved. Some basic roads were constructed with convict labour, but the area now known at the Town of Vincent was mainly occupied by dairy farmers, markets and gardens and the roadways were left as gravel. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, the Town of Vincent area was subdivided and slowly populated with residences, workers cottages, hotels, and churches.

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.