Mundaring Masonic Lodge

Physical Description

The Mundaring Masonic Lodge was built in 1926 of laterite stone with brick quoins and buttresses. The basic plan of the original building is T shaped over which a corrugated iron roof has its main ridge along the north - south axis starting from a gable end on the north and meeting a hipped east -west wing across the south end. The roof features vented gambrels on the hipped ends and has a brick chimney at the centre of the transverse east - west wing. A flat roof extension and new entry porch has been built (c 1950s ?) across the south end of the stone building in a most expedient and unsympathetic manner using framed construction and flat sheet asbestos cladding. In the process of building the extension thought has been given to relocating the original foundation stone so that it is still visible on the new outside wall. The overall character of the original building is elegant and well proportioned, reflecting the earlier style of the Federation free style period.

History

The Mundaring Branch of the Freemasons Lodge (No 90 WAC) was dedicated and consecrated on 5th November 1910, and before the present building was opened in 1926, they met in the Mundaring Agricultural Hall (Site 40) and the Mundaring Hotel (Site 39). Some of the prominent members included the Jacoby Brothers and Alex McCallum of Ballindown ( Site 23), who went on to become Grand Master from c 1936-39, the highest position in the Freemasons organization. E . D. Forsyth, who was Greenmount Road Board secretary from 1905 to 1933, was also secretary of the Mundaring Lodge for 14 years. Other long serving members of the Lodge included Mundaring storekeeper James Wells (Site 232) and stone mason and quarry manager E. (Ted) Ingram (Site 158) of Mahogany Creek.
According to the foundation stone, the oldest section of the Mundaring Lodge building was opened on 13th March 1926, by the then Grand Master, the Most Reverend C.O.L. Riley DD LLD OBE VD, Archbishop of Perth. It was a busy weekend for Archbishop Riley who, the following day, unveiled the memorial tablets at the Mundaring War Memorial (Site 42). Since then additions and alterations have been made to the Lodge building which indicates that the foundation stone is not in its original position.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Modifications: Extension and entry porch added at front.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

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.