Masonic Temple | |
---|---|
![]() Masonic Memorial Temple, Brisbane | |
Location | 311 Ann Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
Coordinates | 27°27′55″S153°01′41″E / 27.4652°S 153.0281°E |
Design period | 1919–1930s (Interwar period) |
Built | 25 April 1928 – 1930 |
Architect | Lange Leopold Powell of Atkinson, Powell and Conrad |
Architectural style(s) | Classical Revival |
Official name | Masonic Temple |
Type | state heritage |
Designated | 21 October 1992 |
Reference no. | 600074 |
Type | Social and community: Hall-masonic / lodge / friendly or benefit society |
Theme | Creating social and cultural institutions: Organisations and societies; Creating social and cultural institutions: Commemorating significant events |
Builders | George Alexander Stronach & Son |
The Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed masonic temple at 311 Ann Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Lange Leopold Powell of Atkinson, Powell and Conrad and was built from 1928 to 1930 by George Alexander Stronach & Son. It is also known as the Masonic Memorial Temple. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. [1]
The Masonic Temple was constructed between 1928 and 1930. In April 1921 the United Grand Lodge of Queensland was formed by the union of the 281 Freemasons' lodges in Queensland. To commemorate the union the Grand Lodge agreed to construct a centrally located temple. In December 1921 land in Ann Street, with a 77-foot (23 m) frontage and depth of 148 feet (45 m), was purchased. In December 1922 an additional 6.3 perches (160 m2) was acquired to make the site symmetrical. The total cost of the land was £6 874. [1]
In June 1923 a competition was held to produce a design for the temple. On 8 December 1924 the plans of Lange Powell (a freemason) of Atkinson, Powell and Conrad, were chosen from the 16 entries submitted. [1] [2] Tenders were called on 12 March 1928 but the plans were drastically modified. The tender of £101,171 from Messrs George Alexander Stronach and Son, builders, was accepted. [1]
On Anzac Day (25 April) 1928 the Most Worshipful Brother Justice Charles Stumm laid the foundation stone. A time capsule was placed beneath the stone which contained copies of the 4 metropolitan newspapers of 24 April 1928, duplicate cheques contributed by Lodges and Brethren, a copy of the Grand Master's speech and coins. The construction of the Masonic Temple commenced in May 1928. The temple was completed in 1930 at a cost of £103 000, plus £10 000 for furniture. Freemasons throughout Queensland contributed towards the expense. [1]
The design provided a four storey building, with a basement for the caretaker and storerooms. The ground floor held the executive offices of the Grand Lodges of Queensland, a library and a museum. In the centre of the large circular vestibule was the Urn of Remembrance to Brethren who died in the First World War. The first floor comprised supper rooms and the second held the lodge rooms. The Grand Lodge room, approximately 91 by 71 by 32 feet (27.7 by 21.6 by 9.8 m), on the top floor, seated 1100 people, and was described in the Architecture and Building Journal in February 1928 as the "largest and finest of its kind in Australia". [1]
The total cost of the project summed up to £ 130,000 which included £ 7,000 for the land and £ 10,000 for furniture. Although the cost of the project was considered somewhat high, it was constructed to be able to take three more floors when this became necessary. [2]
On 9 December 1930 Sir John Goodwin, Governor of Queensland, unveiled and dedicated the memorial urn and on 10 December 1930 the Temple was opened by Most Worshipful Grand Master (Brother William Herbert Green) and dedicated as a memorial to fallen Brethren, a symbol of Masonic unity in Queensland and as a monument to Freemasonry in Queensland. Since 1930 the hall has been the centre of Masonic activity in Queensland. [1] [3]
The Masonic Temple located in upper Ann Street is built in the Classical Revival style. [4] It is rectangular in plan form with its short elevation facing Ann Street. The front facade features six fluted giant order Corinthian columns, each five feet in diameter at the base, supporting a rich entablature and pediment. [2] Between the two central columns are leadlight steel framed windows and the main entry door at the base of the building. The sliding entry doors are bronze and heavily studded. In the bays between columns to either side of the entry are two bronze flagstaffs. The lower portion of the front is a grey granite base containing the foundation stone. The rest of the building has a concrete frame structure encased with both brick and sandstone. The front facade above the granite base is sandstone from Yangan. The initial structure was designed to allow for the possible addition of extra storeys at a future date. [1]
The position of the entrance door was described as "unfortunate" as it cuts into the columns rather than coming between them. Internally on the ground floor level directly behind the entrance is the Hall of Remembrance with its central Urn of Remembrance mounted on a black marble base surrounded by eight free-standing Tuscan columns arranged in a circle with a star-shaped pattern on the floor. The offices, library and museum open off the circular vestibule. [1] [2]
Above the ground floor is the first floor with lodge rooms arranged around a central corridor, and on the second floor above there are supper rooms arranged in a similar fashion. [1] [2]
The third (top) floor mainly taken up by the Grand Hall, a large symmetrical open space with a vaulted coffered ceiling and stepped seating facing the centre. The interior walls have been rendered and given a sand float to give the appearance of sandstone and are surrounded by evenly spaced paired Corinthian pilasters. The organ chamber claims twenty eight feet of this floor space and the pipe organ was supplied by Messrs. B.B. Whitehouse and company. [5] In front of the organ chamber is a gallery seating twenty-two choir members. The hall seats 1200 people. There is a beautifully curved vaulted coffered ceiling lightly decorated in blue and gold. The Grand Hall is used for many masonic ceremonies including Grand Installations and is reputed to be the finest of its kind in Australia. [1] [2]
The floors are connected by a staircase consisting of varying coloured marble, white Carrara and black Buchan for the main stair with a green dado. A multi-coloured marble mosaic is a feature of the landing. The stair also features a wrought iron balustrade with polished timber handrail, and is top lit from above. The corridors have parquetry floors. The furniture throughout is silky oak, maple and cedar, all from Queensland, [1] [2] and particularly from Atherton. [6]
The symmetrical facade and overscale columns give the building great presence as part of the streetscape in this portion of Ann Street. [1]
Masonic Temple was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria. [1]
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
The Masonic Temple was built as a monument to Freemasonry in Queensland and as a World War I memorial and is held in high esteem within the Masonic community. [1]
The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.
The Masonic Temple is an exceptional example of a Masonic Temple in Australia, it is the only dedicated Grand Hall in Australia which is capable of accommodating a Grand Installation. [1]
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.
The Masonic Temple is a fine example of a Classical Revival building designed by LL Powell with particularly fine workmanship evident in its details and is significant for its substantial intactness both externally and internally. [1]
The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
The Masonic Temple is significant for its contribution to the streetscape of Ann Street brought to prominence by the scale of its facade with its giant order Corinthian columns and for the grandeur of its internal spaces especially the Grand Hall and the Court of Remembrance around its Memorial Urn. [1]
ANZAC Square is a heritage-listed town square and war memorial located between Ann Street and Adelaide Street, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a state memorial to the men and women who participated in overseas armed service and is named in honour of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Square is adjacent to ANZAC Square Arcade.
The Shrine of Remembrance is located in ANZAC Square, between Ann Street and Adelaide Street, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. With its 'Eternal Flame', the Shrine is a war memorial dedicated to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzacs).
Freemasons' Hall in London is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England, as well as being a meeting place for many Masonic Lodges in the London area. It is located in Great Queen Street between Holborn and Covent Garden and has been a Masonic meeting place since 1775.
Adelaide Street is a major street in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It runs between and parallel to Queen Street and Ann Street.
Ann Street runs parallel to Adelaide Street and is the northernmost street in the Brisbane CBD in Queensland, Australia. The street is named for Anne, Queen of Great Britain, as part of the CBD street naming series of female British royalty. It is a major thoroughfare, linking as a four-lane one-way street the suburb of Fortitude Valley in the northeast with the Riverside Expressway in the southwest; house numbers run the opposite direction.
Lange Leopold Powell (1886–1938) was a noted architect who designed many important buildings in Brisbane and the state of Queensland. He started practice in 1909; his major works included St Martin's War Memorial Hospital and the Masonic Temple, Brisbane (1928)
St George's Masonic Centre is a heritage-listed masonic lodge at 50A Guy Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by William Wallace and built from 1886 to 1887. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Cooroora Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed community hall at 9 Station Street, Pomona, Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1923. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 December 2003.
Isis Masonic Lodge is a heritage-listed masonic temple at 18 Macrossan Street, Childers, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by F H Faircloth and built from 1897 to 1909. It is also known as Corinthian Lodge. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 April 2000.
Mount Morgan Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed masonic temple at 2 Gordon Street, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eaton & Bates and built in 1903 by Newman Brothers. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Rockhampton Masonic Hall is a heritage-listed masonic hall at 112–114 Kent Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eaton & Bates and built from 1900 to 1901 by Bradshaw & Ricketts. It is also known as Masonic Lodge and Masonic Temple. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 23 June 2000.
Mackay Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed masonic temple at 57 Wood Street, Mackay, Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by F. H. Faircloth and built in 1925 by William Ptrick Guthrie. It is also known as Masonic Hall. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 14 August 2009.
Townsville Masonic Hall is a heritage-listed former masonic temple at 485-493 Sturt Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by W G Smith & Sons and built in 1889 by Sparre & Hansen. It is also known as Assembly of God Hall, Calvary Temple, Townsville Choral & Orchestral Society Building, Townsville Choral Society Inc. Building, and Townsville Choral and Orchestral Society Building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Barcaldine Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed masonic temple at 39 Beech Street, Barcaldine, Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1900. It is also known as Comet Masonic Temple. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Blackall Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed masonic temple at Hawthorn Street, Blackall, Blackall-Tambo Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1908. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Charters Towers Masonic Lodge is a heritage-listed masonic temple at 20 Ryan Street, Charters Towers City, Charters Towers, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1887 to 1897. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Mount Perry Masonic Lodge is a heritage-listed masonic temple at Isabella Street, Mount Perry, North Burnett Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1904. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Cairns Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed former masonic temple at 8 Minnie Street, Cairns City, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1934 to 1935. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 August 1998.
Museum of Freemasonry, based at Freemasons’ Hall, London, is a fully accredited museum since 2009, with a designated outstanding collection of national importance since 2007 and registered charitable trust since 1996. The facility encompasses a museum, library, and archive.
Freemasonry traces its origins back to the 1300s and is steeped in secret rituals.
This Wikipedia article contains material from Masonic Temple , an entry in the Queensland Heritage Register published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 4.0 AU licence, accessed on 27 February 2018.