GRAND
LODGE
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Moonta's
historic Masonic Lodge
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The above photo was
supplied courtesy of Dr David
Kilner
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| The oldest Masonic lodge premises still used
for original purposes in Australia situated in Moonta, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia refurbished 2005-6 |
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| Click on a photo to see
a
larger image. Photos below were supplied courtesy of MW Bro.Rob Casson |
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In 2005-06 extensive renovation of the building was undertaken by the Lodge, in conjunction with the Grand Lodge of South Australia and the Northern Territory and the South Australian Government Department for Environment and Heritage. The newly refurbished building was officially opened by Grand Master MW Bro. R K Casson on 2 April 2006.Other Lodges may make arrangements to use this historic lodge room. A Short History of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge Rooms in Moonta The history of the Duke of Edinburgh lodge No 16 has been documented in various publications over the years.It was on 20 October 1868 that a meeting of Freemasons at the Royal Hotel in Moonta decided that a Lodge be formed, and that it be called The Duke of Edinburgh Lodge. The owner of the Hotel, himself a Freemason, agreed to the Lodge holding its meetings there. The Warrant, No 1252 EC subsequently arrived from England and in May 1869 a meeting was called for the purpose fixing a date for the opening of the Lodge. On 2 July 1869 the Opening Ceremony was held and W Bro C M Dunn was installed as the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge. The Lodge first met in the Royal Hotel and later (1874) in the Bible Christian Church Hall, now the School of Mines building. In September 1874 tenders were called for the erection of a Masonic Hall in Blanche Terrace. The tender was awarded to Rossiter and Davis on the condition that the cost did not exceed £700. The Foundation Stone, made from a piece of granite from the Port Hughes beach, was laid in true Masonic Fashion on 15 January 1875, by W Bro HE Downer SM, District DGM. Building proceeded well and the Consecration of the Lodge Room took place on 20 July 1875, when the inaugural address was given by Bro Rev C G Taplin. In order to meet the bank overdraft of £340 which represented the balance due on the building, a proposal was made to issue £5 bonds, but this was not given effect until the following year. On account of the lack of finance, the completion of the refreshment room was deferred and not completed until 1877. At the November meeting in 1889 the treasurer informed the Lodge that all the bonds had been paid and that the Lodge was in the happy position of being free of debt and that there was a credit balance in the bank. The Duke of Edinburgh Lodge was the first lodge in South Australia to build its own Lodge Rooms outside of Adelaide and today is the oldest Masonic owned building in South Australia. On 14 October 1891 the Moonta Mark Lodge No 432 EC was constituted and on 20 September 1893 the Royal Arch Chapter. Moonta Mark Mariners No 2 commenced in 1911 but closed in 1913. They recommenced in 1949. In October 1893 plans were submitted to increase the accommodation of the banqueting room at a cost of £200, but owing to insufficient funds, the proposal was deferred. On 22 November 1898 a committee was appointed to consider and mature plans for renovating and repairing the building and lighting the premises with gas. A contract was subsequently let for this purpose and the Lodge went into recess for two months to enable the work to be carried out. The work was done by a Mr. Henty from Adelaide under the supervision of Mr. G S Bradley. W Bro J W Hughes acted as a general adviser on behalf of the Lodge. The cost of the refurbishment amounted to £156/9/8 and was reported in the Yorke Peninsula Advertiser on 17 March 1899 as follows: "Moonta can now boast one of,
if not the most handsomest lodge rooms in the colony....
After meeting the expenses of renovating and the installation
of gas
lighting, the treasurer's statement showed a debit balance of £64/4/6.
The gas lights were replaced with electric lights in 1917. At the reopening of the Lodge on 21 March 1899, admiration was expressed on all sides at the wonderful transformation of the lodge room. To this day the interior of the Lodge room remains largely untouched and draws visitors from many places to view the work done back in 1898. Renovations to the banqueting room were carried out in 1902 - 03 at a cost of £500. The room was enlarged from 24 feet x 14 feet to 40 feet x 21 feet. Again the Yorke Peninsula Advertiser reported on 13 March 1903 the following: "It is a pity so handsome a
building is not in a more conspicuous
position, it being over the hill from the principal portion of the
town.... "
In 1903 it was resolved to secure enlarged framed photographs
of the
Past Masters of the Lodge to adorn the walls of the anteroom. This took
some time but was completed by the end of 1904. Since that time the
practice has continued and the anteroom now boasts a framed photograph
of every Master of the Lodge, again, a talking point for the many
people who visit the Lodge rooms.During the period 1903 - 2005 the Lodge Rooms remained largely untouched from the work that was carried out between 1898 and 1903. A search of the Minute books highlights some of the ongoing maintenance work that was carried out: August 1926 external
renovations carried out by Hedger & Allen of Kadina at a cost of £27/11/-
March 1927 Bro Edwards painted the exterior of the building, and did some internal renovations May 1961 roof renovations carried out July 1961 ceiling fans installed in Lodge Room October 1962 new linoleum was laid in the anteroom 1965 a new toilet block was built by Bro I L Goerecke. W Bro Jack Hicks donated the bricks November 1973 Bro E Nitscke's quote to paint the lodge was accepted March 1974 a quote of $110.00 was received to rewire the lodge and place the meter box outside January 1978 a fire escape from the basement via one of the windows was constructed October 1978 hessian curtains were hung in the basement at a cost of $581.00 January 1980 rush matting was placed on the floor in the basement December 1981 a quote for $2730 was received to effect repairs inside the Lodge Room February 1982 there was a request from the Permanent committee to members asking them to refrain from butting their cigarettes on the Festive Board floor April 1986 a new ceiling was installed in the ante room and the walls were painted July 1986 new light fittings were put in the anteroom February 1987 new blinds were put in the anteroom December 1992 decision made to cease using the basement Festive Board room and to hold all Festive Boards upstairs January 1996 plans were approved to proceed with the upstairs kitchen August 1996 new carpet was laid in the anteroom In 2005 the Grand Master, MW Bro R K Casson along with the Director of Asset Management, the Grand Superintendent of Works, and with approval from the Board of Management, undertook the task of renovating and restoring the building in conjunction with the Lodge, to meet with current standards of building legislation. Extensive work was carried out both internally and externally to repair the building and restore it to its former glory. The basement was completely renovated and a new staircase fitted. The anteroom had cracks repaired, was repainted and the gallery of Past Masters all had a good clean up before being re hung. The complex was completely rewired to bring it up to current electrical standards. The inside of the Lodge Room underwent renovation but care was taken to preserve the work carried out over 100 years ago. Prepared by R.W.Bro. I Archibald JGW, January 2006 References:Lodge Minute BooksDuke of Edinburgh Lodge No 16 SAC The First Hundred Years by W Bro H A Cadd The Early History of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge No 16 SAC by W Bro T S Archibald Moonta's Duke of Edinburgh Masonic Temple by Vivien Stewart in Heritage Australia (Journal of the Australian Council of National Trusts) Vol 6 No 4 (Summer 1987) pp 16-18 Yorke Peninsula Advertiser 17 March 1899 and 13 March 1903 Duke of Edinburgh Lodge No 16 SAC Centenary Souvenir 1969
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06.2007 www.freemasonrysaust.org.au/moonta.html |