Cooroora Masonic Temple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cooroora Masonic Temple |
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Former Cooroora Masonic Temple
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| Location | 9 Station Street, Pomona, Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1923 - 1923 |
| Official name: Cooroora Masonic Temple (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 12 December 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602423 |
| Significant period | 1923, 1925-1938 (fabric) 1923-c. 2003 (historical) |
| Significant components | mural / fresco, furniture/fittings |
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The Cooroora Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed building located at 9 Station Street in Pomona, a small town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1923 and is a special part of the town's history. This unique building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it is protected for its historical importance.
A Look Back: History of the Temple
The former Cooroora Masonic Temple was built in 1923. It stands right across from the Pomona railway station. Pomona itself grew in the early 1900s, known for its timber, dairy farms, and fruit growing. The town was named in 1900 after Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit.
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is one of the oldest social and charitable organizations in the world. Its members, called Freemasons, follow a code of morals and ethics. They often meet in special buildings called "temples" or "lodges." Freemasonry arrived in Australia with the first European settlers.
How Freemasonry Came to Pomona
Freemasonry started in Pomona in 1913. A group of 17 Freemasons in Pomona decided to form their own local group, called a "Lodge." They named it Lodge Cooroora No 1128. Their first official meeting was held on December 13, 1913. Later, in 1921, they joined a larger group called the United Grand Lodge of Queensland.
Building the Pomona Temple
For its first ten years, the Cooroora Lodge met in a hall at the Noosa Showgrounds. In 1923, the Lodge bought a piece of land near the railway station. Members of the Lodge worked together as volunteers to build their own temple. It cost about £800, which was a lot of money back then! The first meeting in their new building was held on June 23, 1923.
The Amazing Murals of Bill Hodge
One of the most amazing features of the temple is its unique murals. A local fruit seller and restaurant owner named William (Bill) Hodge joined the Lodge in 1920. He became the leader, or "Master," in 1924-1925. In 1925, Bill started a huge project to decorate the temple.
He spent nine years painting incredible murals on all four inside walls of the main lodge room. These paintings are "trompe l'oeil" murals. This means they are painted in a way that tricks your eye into thinking they are real 3D objects or scenes.
The Inspiration for the Murals
Bill Hodge's murals are copies of paintings that were in the Masonic Temple at the Criterion Restaurant in London. He used small, black and white photos from an English Masonic magazine as his guide. Even with just these photos, he recreated detailed scenes of classical and biblical buildings.
He painted the first two walls between 1925 and 1928. Then, between 1932 and 1934, he finished the last two walls. Bill mixed his own paints, using colors like beige, grey, black, and white. He worked mostly at night, using only kerosene lamps, because Pomona didn't have electricity until 1941! Bill Hodge passed away in 1949 and is buried in the Pomona cemetery.
Why the Murals Are Special
The pictures and symbols in the murals are very important to Masonic traditions and beliefs. Even though the building itself was simple, these murals made the inside look rich and elegant. They are very well-preserved and are believed to be the only copies of the original London murals, which were likely destroyed during World War II.
Local Furniture in the Temple
Some of the furniture inside the temple was also made locally. It was possibly crafted by Herb Page, who started a cabinet-making business in Pomona in 1919.
The Lodge's Later Years
The number of members in the Cooroora Lodge reached its highest point in 1965, with 55 members. Over time, fewer people joined, and it became hard to find money to keep the building in good shape. Because of this, the Lodge decided to sell the building in 2005. The Lodge then met in Tewantin for a few years before finally closing down completely in 2008.
What the Temple Looks Like
The former Masonic temple is a rectangular building made of timber. Its outside walls are covered with hardwood boards. It sits on low metal stumps and has a gabled roof made of corrugated iron.
The Exterior
At the front, there's a verandah that looks like it was enclosed later. A small timber porch covers the front entrance, with timber stairs on each side. The windows along the sides and front have been covered up. The front windows used to light the small waiting rooms, not the main hall. The side windows of the main hall were covered so that the murals could cover the entire walls.
Inside the Lodge Room
The front part of the building has a waiting room. Here, you can see portraits of past Lodge leaders and members. The main lodge room inside has walls lined with vertical timber boards and a curved ceiling. The ceiling and the top part of the walls are painted a light blue, which looks like the sky.
Below this blue, each wall is covered with a "trompe l'oeil" mural. These murals show famous buildings with Masonic symbols.
- The eastern wall shows the Temple of Demeter and Dionysus at Eleusis.
- The western wall shows the temple of Theseus at Corinth.
- The southern wall shows the Choragic monument of Lysicrates at Athens.
- The northern wall shows the building of Temple of Solomon at Jerusalem.
The lodge room still has some of its original equipment and furniture used by the Freemasons, including chairs that were made locally.
Why is it Heritage Listed?
The former Cooroora Masonic Temple was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on December 12, 2003. This means it's recognized as an important part of Queensland's history and culture for several reasons:
Showing Queensland's History
This temple helps us understand how towns like Pomona grew in the early 1900s. It also shows how Freemasonry spread across Queensland as more people settled there.
Unique Cultural Heritage
The murals inside the temple are very special. They show many of the symbols and beliefs of Freemasonry. These murals are thought to be unique in Australia. Since the original murals in London were likely destroyed during World War II, the paintings in Pomona might be the only copies left of this amazing artwork.
A Great Example of a Masonic Temple
The Cooroora Masonic Temple is a well-preserved example of a timber Masonic temple from a regional area. These types of buildings were often important landmarks in country towns and played a big part in the social life of the community.
Beautiful Artwork and Design
The murals on all four walls of the temple are considered very beautiful. They are an incredible achievement for the artist, William (Bill) Hodge. He worked for many years, using only small black and white photos and difficult lighting, to create these detailed works of art.
Strong Community Connection
The former Cooroora Masonic Temple has a very special connection with the Freemasons who lived in and around Pomona. It is also important to the wider Freemasonry movement as an early 20th-century temple in Queensland.
