Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall and Lodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall and Lodge |
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| Location | 5 Victoria Street, Maitland, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1886–1927 |
| Architect | J. W. Pender |
| Owner | Maitland Lodge of Unity |
| Official name: Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall and Lodge | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 19 December 2014 |
| Reference no. | 1937 |
| Type | Hall Masonic |
| Category | Community Facilities |
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The Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall and Lodge is a special old building in Maitland. It's a place where a group called the Freemasons meet. This building is found at 5 Victoria Street.
A person named J. W. Pender designed it. It was built between 1886 and 1927. The Maitland Lodge of Unity group owns this historic building. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on December 19, 2014. This means it's a very important building for the history of New South Wales.
A Look Back: History of the Lodge
When the colony of New South Wales grew, people started moving outside of Sydney. In the early 1800s, Europeans found the rich lands of the Hunter Valley. They soon set up a new settlement there.
Maitland's Early Days
Maitland, first called Wallis Plains, was settled because its land was very fertile. Its location on the Hunter River was also key. Steamships could travel from Maitland to Sydney in less than 12 hours. This helped Maitland become a major farming area. By the 1840s, many people moved there. Its population was second only to Sydney.
Many new people in Maitland were English settlers. They wanted to keep their traditions from home. One of these traditions was Freemasonry.
What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is like a social club or brotherhood. Members often focus on personal growth and helping their community. They have special meetings and symbols. The first Freemason groups in Australia started in Sydney in the 1820s. These groups were connected to larger "Grand Lodges" in places like England or Ireland.
The Maitland Lodge of Unity Begins
The Maitland Lodge of Unity was the fifth Freemason group in New South Wales. It was the first one to start outside of Sydney. It began in 1840 with 18 members. These members were important business people in Maitland. They helped develop the culture and society of the Hunter region.
At first, the lodge didn't have its own building. They met in different places. These included members' homes, the Rose Inn, the Waterloo Inn, and the Australian Hotel. The owner of the Rose Inn was also a Freemason.
Ups and Downs of the Lodge
By 1850, the Maitland Lodge had grown to 50 members. But over the next 20 years, membership went up and down. In the 1860s, Maitland faced tough times. A plant disease hurt its wheat farms. Flooding of the Hunter River also made travel hard. By 1869, the lodge had only 19 members.
Maitland then started new businesses to survive. This helped the town recover. The lodge also saw its numbers grow again. By 1873, there were 81 Freemasons.
Building a Permanent Home
With more members and money, the lodge could finally get its own place. They bought land on High Street in Maitland. But building there was too expensive. So, they rented rooms in another building from 1877.
In 1884, the lodge bought land on Victoria Street. They hired J. W. Pender, a well-known local architect, to design a new building. He was also a member of the lodge. On August 3, 1886, the first stone for the new building was laid. It was special because a woman, the wife of a lodge member, laid the stone. The building was finished in March 1887. The Master of the Lodge, Thomas Browne, officially opened it.
A United Lodge
In 1888, Freemason groups in New South Wales joined together. They formed the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. This group became the main governing body for Freemasonry in the state. The Maitland Lodge of Unity was part of this new union.
As the Maitland Lodge grew, it bought more land around its Victoria Street site. In 1927, they built a second building. It was called "The South" and faced Grant Street. This building was used for meals and community events.
What the Building Looks Like
The Masonic Hall of the Maitland Lodge of Unity is a beautifully decorated building. It was designed by J. W. Pender. It shows the Late Victorian style. It also has special "Arabian" or "Moorish" design elements.
Outside the Hall
The building is made of brick. It has a sloped timber roof. The front of the building, facing Victoria Street, is covered in a smooth, painted finish. It has many fancy decorations. These include detailed shapes, fake domes, and Freemason symbols. A fence with gates stands at the street level. You enter the building through a raised central porch. This porch has unique horse-shoe shaped arches and artistic symbols.
The sides of the lodge building are made of plain brick. The roof has a timber-framed roof lantern on top. This lantern has glass windows and timber louvres.
Inside the Hall
Inside, the Masonic Hall follows special design rules called "double cube construction." This is a key principle in Freemasonry design. The building has two main rooms. First, there's a simple, plain ante room. This leads to the more decorated temple room.
The temple room has a special linoleum floor panel. It shows Freemason symbols, like a "blazing sun." The ceiling is coved (curved). There's a central lantern and a triangular "G" symbol hanging from the ceiling. This "G" stands for God. The temple is very decorated with shapes, cornices (decorative borders), vents, and more Freemason symbols. One symbol is an eight-point star, which comes from the double cube design.
The second building, built in 1927 on Grant Street, is simpler. It's made of brick with a tiled roof. It has a hall and a kitchen. This building is more practical and less decorated than the main lodge.
Why This Place is Special
The Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall and Lodge is very important to the history of New South Wales. It was the fifth Freemason lodge in NSW. It was also the first one built outside of Sydney. It started in 1840. The Masonic lodge building, built in 1887, was its first permanent home.
Connection to a Key Architect
This building is linked to John W. Pender. He was a famous architect in the Hunter region in the 1800s. He helped develop many important buildings in the area. Pender was also a member of the Maitland Lodge of Unity. He designed this special building for them.
Pender also designed other important buildings. These include Cintra House (1878), the former Maitland Synagogue (1879), Anambah House (1889), and Saumarez Homestead (1888).
The lodge is also important because of the leading business people who were members. They helped Maitland grow and recover in the 1800s.
Unique Design and Beauty
The Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall is a beautiful and unique building. It stands out because of its Late Victorian style. It also has "Arabian" or "Moorish" design elements. These styles were rare in regional Australian towns in the 1800s.
The building's design follows the "double cube principle." This means its length, width, and height are in perfect proportion. Both the outside and inside are highly decorated. They feature many symbolic images important to Freemasonry. These include the eight-point star, the blazing sun, and the "G" symbol.
Community Value
The Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall and Lodge is still used today. It continues to be a meeting place for Freemasons in the Hunter region. The community values the lodge and its members. They appreciate the Freemasons' long history and their charitable work.
Rare and Important Features
This Masonic hall is a rare example of a specially designed Freemason building. Many other lodges in NSW used existing buildings. Pender's design for the Maitland hall was creative and unique. It brought rare architectural styles to a regional area.
The fact that this lodge was the first outside Sydney also makes it very special. It shows how Freemasonry spread as new areas were settled.
A Great Example of Masonic Design
The Maitland Lodge of Unity Masonic Hall is a wonderful example of Freemason design. It perfectly shows the "double cube principle." It also includes many traditional Freemason symbols. These symbols are key to understanding the group's teachings. While other lodges use these principles, this one is especially well-preserved and detailed.
