The Freemasons' Hall, often spelt Freemason's Hall, also known as the Toodyay Lodge, Templar Lodge, and Temperance Hall, on Fiennes Street, Toodyay, Western Australia, is a masonic hall built in 1879.
| Freemasons' Hall | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Former names | Temperance Hall, Templar Lodge |
| Alternative names | Toodyay Lodge |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic |
| Address | 19 Fiennes Street |
| Town or city | Toodyay |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°33′10″S 116°27′55″E / 31.552886°S 116.465179°E |
| Completed | 1879 |
| Renovated | 1924 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Percy W. Harrison (1924) |
| References | |
| Toodyay municipal inventory | |
History edit
The hall built on land donated by Charles Marris for the purpose of building a temple for the Temperance movement. The Templars used the place and it was also the venue for Methodist Church services until 1898. In 1899, the Rev E. Holiday purchased the building for the Freemasons.[1]
On 20 November 1899, the building was consecrated and dedicated in Newcastle as No. 2803 (English Constitution). When the Grand Lodge of Western Australia was established some months later, its number changed to No. 37.[2]
In 1924, an additional wing was constructed designed by architect Percy Harrison, also a Freemason. When the road was widened, the front steps were demolished and the front door bricked up.[1]
The building was repainted to resemble the original colour of the bricks in 2014.[3]
Architecture edit
The building is described thus in its heritage listing by Toodyay Shire Council: "Tall Gothic style Mason hall with steep pitched iron roof and tall narrow windows set in recessed rounded arch openings. The extension to the rear with skillion roof is of a lean-to style. Painted brick and half timbering to gable apex are present. The front door is bricked in but the original dressings around the opening is still visible. The side extension of timber and iron on stumps adjoins a brick structure with shallower pitched gable roof and timber vented gable apex. There are high level small windows at rear."[4]
Heritage listings edit
The building was classified by the National Trust of Western Australia in 1977, listed on the municipal inventory in 2989, and heritage-listed in 2012, for both its historic and aesthetic value.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Hocking Planning & Architecture (2012), Municipal Inventory and Heritage List (PDF), Shire of Toodyay, pp. 320–321, archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2018, retrieved 12 April 2018,
The original building was constructed in 1879 on land donated by Charles Marris for the purpose of a temple. Marris was one of the leading temperance workers and he trained a brass band which played at public functions. The Templars used the place and it was also the venue for Methodist Church services until 1898... Rev. E. Holiday...was the first Master of the Freemasons, buying the Templar Lodge in 1899.
- ^ "1999-11-20 – Toodyay Historical Society". Toodyay Historical Society. 20 November 1999. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Masonic Hall, Toodyay". Collections WA. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Freemason's (sic) Hall". inHerit. Government of Western Australia, Heritage Council. 1 January 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2024.