 Of the many
buildings
of historical and heritage interest in South Australia, some were
designed or constructed by Freemasons.
Freemasons Hall
at 254 North Terrace, Adelaide, was erected during 1925-7,
incorporating Masonic symbols in its design. Tours of this
heritage
listed building are available. Those visiting are able to see
lodge
meeting rooms, the Adelaide Masonic
Centre Museum and the JR
Robertson
Masonic Memorial Library.
The exterior of the Port Adelaide
Masonic Centre arouses interest as an example of the Egyptian
Revival style of architecture sparked following the opening of the tomb
of Tutankhamun in Egypt in 1923. The building was
designed by architect Charles
Walter
Rutt, a Freemason,
and constructed in 1927-8.
Belmont
House in Brougham Place, North Adelaide, originally
constructed
in 1858 as a Masonic Hall to a design by the noted architect Edmund
Wright, is on the Register
of
the
National
Estate
and the State Heritage List. On 27
December
1858, when the hall was dedicated for Masonic purposes, Wright was
addressed as "Brother Architect", suggesting that he was a
Freemason. The explorer John McDouall Stuart became a Freemason
in this building. in August 1859.
The
explorer John
McDouall Stuart joined Lodge
of Truth No.933 English Constitution
(from 1884 No.8 SA Constitution)
on
1
August
1859,
in Belmont.
The Adelaide Masonic
Museum collection includes Stuart's Masonic
Certificate and two Warden's gavels crafted from a limb of "Stuart's
Tree" which stood at Chamber's Bay, Van Diemen Gulf, Northern
Territory, and on which Stuart had
carved his initials "JMDS" on 24 July
1865, to record the crossing of the continent from south to
north.
The tree limb was removed in 1893. The first Warden to use the
gavel was Bro. SJ Mitchell,
former Government Resident and Judge in the Northern Territory, and
grandfather of former SA Governor Dame Roma Mitchell.
The collection of the John McDouall Stuart
Society is displayed in the Adelaide Masonic Centre.
McDouall
Stuart
Lodge
No.219 was formed in 1973 in Alice
Springs. The Alice Springs Masonic Centre contains the plaster
model
for the statue of Stuart which stands in Victoria Square,
Adelaide.
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As settlers moved to country areas, Masonic lodges were established in
many towns. Australia's oldest hall still in use for Masonic
purposes is located
the historic mining town of Moonta (at
left) in upper Yorke Peninsula; it was built in 1875 (click on the image
to learn more about Moonta Masonic Hall).
Moonta, 1875
Clare, 1904
Semaphore, 1911
Darwin, 1961-2
Mount Gambier, 1964
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other
heritage
pages
on
this
web site:
The Adelaide
Masonic
Museum contains many items used in Freemasonry, including
aids employed to illustrate principles, certificates, Masonic aprons,
regalia and mementos. |
.
Port Adelaide, 1927-8
Belmont, North
Adelaide, 1858
(Masonic Hall 1858-1863)
Jamestown, 1909
former lodge building, Orroroo, 1922
Tusmore, 1936
Kadina, 1883
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The Heritage of Freemasonry
