Yangan Masonic Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yangan Masonic Hall |
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Yangan Masonic Hall
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| Location | 36 King Street, Yangan, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1898–1957 |
| Official name: Yangan Masonic Hall, Yangan Masonic Temple, Yangan School of Arts | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600526 |
| Significant period | 1898, 1901, 1957 (fabric) 1898–1912 (historical) 1898-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | steps/stairway, furniture/fittings, wall/s – retaining, toilet block/earth closet/water closet |
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The Yangan Masonic Hall is a special old building located at 36 King Street in Yangan, Australia. It was built between 1898 and 1957. This building is also known as the Yangan Masonic Temple. It used to be the Yangan School of Arts, which was a place for learning and community activities. Today, it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, meaning it's an important historical site.
Contents
The Hall's Story
The Yangan Masonic Hall became a meeting place for the Yangan Lodge in 1912. It was first built around 1898. At that time, it served as Yangan's very first School of Arts. Yangan was growing into a busy and successful town in the Darling Downs area.
Early Days of Yangan
The area around Yangan was explored by Allan Cunningham in 1827. Later, in 1840, the Leslie brothers started a large farm called Canning Downs. One of their outposts was at what became Yangan. The town grew to support local industries. These included cutting timber, quarrying sandstone, dairy farming, and other types of farming.
Even before 1884, Yangan had a school, a church, and a police station. But the town really started to boom when the Warwick to Killarney railway line opened on June 2, 1884. Yangan had its own station on this line. This railway helped farmers transport their goods.
By 1900, Yangan was a thriving center. It had cheese factories, stores, blacksmith shops, a hall, and boarding houses. It also had a "natty little School of Arts and reading room."
From School of Arts to Masonic Hall
The Yangan School of Arts was started in 1897. By 1898, a timber building was ready. It was built on land owned by the Warwick Hospital Committee. Soon after, in 1899, there were plans to make the building twice as big.
In 1901, the building was expanded. It then included a library and a smoke room. The work cost about £49.13.6. This included moving the original building further back on the property.
By 1909, people wanted to expand the School of Arts even more, adding a billiard room. The old site wasn't big enough. So, in June 1912, a new School of Arts building was planned. This new building was built on a different site on King Street. The new Yangan School of Arts opened on October 19, 1912.
In the same year, the Yangan Masonic Lodge bought the first School of Arts building. They paid about £40 for the building and £25 for the land. Many members of the Lodge helped with the improvements for free. The building became known as the "Temple with the Long Stairs." It was officially opened as a Masonic Temple on September 11, 1912.
The Masonic Lodge in Yangan
The Yangan Lodge was formed in 1903. Before that, local Masons belonged to other lodges. Early meetings were held at the Yangan Oddfellows Hall.
The first Masonic Lodge in Queensland was in Brisbane in 1859. Masonic Temples look different in various towns. However, the main Lodge Room always has a similar layout. This is because of the special traditions and ceremonies of the Masons.
In 1920, the Yangan Lodge became part of the Queensland Grand Lodge. This was a step towards uniting all the different Masonic Lodges in Queensland. On April 29, 1921, the United Grand Lodge of Queensland was formed. Yangan Lodge became number 148 on its list.
After World War I, the Lodge grew again. The yearly Yangan Masonic Ball was a big event. Many improvements were made to the Lodge Room. These included buying an altar, an organ, and other furniture. Around 1930, battery-powered electric lights replaced kerosene lamps and candles.
During World War II, the Lodge's activities were limited. Blackout rules were in place. Formal dinners and dress codes for meetings were stopped.
After the war, more changes were made. In the 1950s, part of a wall could be removed to make the Lodge Room bigger. In the 1970s, the dining area was changed. A second outside stairway was added. A new door was also added for fire safety. In 1994, the front stairs were rebuilt, and the building was repainted.
A big change happened in 1957. A concrete retaining wall, stairs, and pillars with lights were built at the street entrance. This made the "Temple with the Long Stairs" even more impressive. The street itself was also changed, making the Temple stand out even more on the highest level.
After World War II, Yangan faced some tough times. The Warwick to Killarney railway closed in 1964. By the late 1970s, the Yangan Masonic Lodge was struggling. But within ten years, it had recovered and became a thriving lodge once again.
What the Hall Looks Like
The Yangan Masonic Hall is a two-story timber building. It sits on the north side of King Street, which is Yangan's main road. The building is on a high part of the street, giving it great views over the valley.
Outside the Building
The entrance to the property from the street has a concrete wall. There are concrete stairs, pillars with lights, and fence posts with wire panels. Cars can reach the site from a smaller road behind the main street. At the back of the property, there's an outdoor timber toilet.
The building has two levels. The front, facing the street, has a long entry stair. The ground rises towards the back of the building. The front of the building has a symmetrical verandah. It has a central gabled entry porch with a pointed roof. On either side are rounded verandah roofs. The building's name is painted on the porch.
Above the entry, there's a fancy cast iron archway. On either side, there are decorative iron panels between pairs of timber posts. The corners have cast iron brackets. The long timber stair leads up to the building. The verandah and stairs have decorative cast iron railings with a timber handrail.
The outside walls of the building are made of timber boards. The windows are either timber sash windows or aluminum-framed glass louvres. All the window hoods and the roof over the side entry are made of metal. The main entry doors are French doors with panels. There are also two other outside doors on the western side of the upper level. One door on the lower level faces the street.
Inside the Building
The upper level inside the building has two main rooms: the Lodge Room and the Ante-Room. The Ante-Room has a small storage area. The wall between the Ante-Room and the Lodge Room can be partly removed. This allows more seating to extend into the Ante-Room when needed. The inside is painted light blue with brown trim. The Lodge Room has a brown dado (lower part of the wall) with a stenciled pattern near the top.
The inside walls are covered with wide vertical timber boards. The ceilings are made of timber boards. The Ante-Room has a decorative ceiling rose. The ceiling in the Lodge Room is angled, following the roofline. It has molded timber cornices (decorative trim) where the walls meet the ceiling. The floor is also timber. There are raised platforms around the edges for seating.
The furniture in the Lodge Room includes special timber "thrones" for leaders. There are also desks, timber pews, a lectern, and a pedestal for the bible. In the center of the floor is a black and white linoleum pattern. A triangular timber "G" hangs from the ceiling. Various ceremonial items, like sword-bayonets and gavels, are mounted on the walls. The main entry door to the Lodge Room has brass knockers and a sliding peephole.
On the lower level, there is a small kitchen and dining area. This is called the Festive Board Room. Its walls are covered with fibrous cement sheets. A timber post stands in the center of this room.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Yangan Masonic Hall was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Showing History
The Hall is a unique landmark in Yangan. It sits high on the northern side of the main street. Its long entrance, which gave it the nickname "Temple with the Long Stairs," shows how important the town used to be.
The building started as Yangan's first reading room and library. Later, the Yangan Masonic Lodge bought and changed it. For almost a century, it has served the community.
Special Design
The Masonic Hall is a simple timber public building. But its front is very decorative. It has a gabled entry porch, a verandah with fancy screens, and a long timber stair. This design was a way to show the building's importance in the town. It also formally faces the town's main street.
Beautiful Landmark
Its location high on King Street and its long, grand entrance make the Yangan Masonic Hall a distinctive landmark. It reminds people of Yangan's past prosperity.
Community Connection
For over eighty years, the Hall has been the meeting place for the Yangan Masonic Lodge. The Hall, especially the Lodge Room and its furnishings, is a key part of the Masonic traditions. Many generations of local Masons have used it for their ceremonies.
