Masonic Hall

Statement of Significance

The Victoria Park Masonic Hall has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

• The place has aesthetic value as the hall's architecture is reflective of buildings constructed for community use in the late 1920s; and
• The hall is a reminder of the long association the Masonic Lodge has had with the Victoria Park community.

Physical Description

The Masonic Hall is located on the corner of Temple Street and Albany Highway.

Facing Albany Highway is a c1950s parapet wall facade addition to the hall, constructed of red face brick with thin vertical aluminium framed windows. The rendered gable end to the c1920s hall is visible from Albany highway behind the c1950s parapet. The gabled roof to the hall uses corrugated galvanised steel roof sheeting.

The Temple Street facade (east) has been built on the street boundary and has a red face brick parapet with cream rendered, banded columns at regular intervals with a rendered parapet capping, and rendered concrete lintels above steel frame windows. The entrance to the hall is off Temple Street and is emphasised by a raised parapet with a Freemasons insignia above the opening. Neo-classical columns frame a recessed entry portico.

The south elevation is predominantly concealed by a neighbouring two storey car park. A single timber door entry is however located to the south east corner of the building with a corrugated steel awning cover.

A narrow pathway divides the Masonic Hall with the boundary of the neighbouring building to the west.

History

The Victoria Park Lodge was formed in 1901. In 1903 Brother Gutman offered his block of land on the corner of Temple and Albany Road for sale at a cost of £272 to be charged interest free and to be repaid only when possible. This offer was accepted and a month later it was decided to build a Masonic Hall. A maximum budget was set at £700, however this amount blew out to £1100. In order to pay for the building, debentures were issued for £2 each at 2.5% over 15 years. The original hall was approximately 14 metres by 7 metres. In September 1904 the first meeting was held in the hall.

In 1917, during World War I, extensions were made to the hall and a Roll of Honour was added. During 1927 the original hall was demolished and the current one was built. A dinner was held to commemorate the occasion and a photo of the celebratory dinner is still on display in the anteroom. The Victoria Park Lodge then formed a partnership with Riley Lodge to form a Hall Company.

The Company now has 99 lodges as members. During 1968, owing to the Grand Lodge moving from Hay Street West to Terrace Road, the Freemason's Club moved to take up residence in the Victoria Park Masonic Hall and in 1998 was a valued tenant. Refurbishment of the hall in 1993 included a modernised kitchen, a lower ceiling, the Lodge Room and the installation of air conditioning.

Integrity/Authenticity

INTEGRITY: Medium
AUTHENTICITY: Medium

Condition

Sound

Uses

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.