A Time-line of Australian Masonic History

 

The beginnings of Freemasonry in Australia are perhaps as clouded in mystery as its world wide beginnings. It is believed at least that the first Freemason to set foot on Australian soil arrived here with the Endeavour, in the person of Joseph Banks. Some of the important events the brought Freemasonry to Victoria are represented on this time-line;

 


1770 - HMS Endeavour reaches Australia with Freemason Joseph Banks on board

1797 - Freemasons Arms hotel built in Parramatta

1800 27 April - Lodge of St John meets on Norfolk Island without a Warrant until 1807

1802 17 September - First Masonic document issued in Australia now held in the Mitchell Library in Sydney

1803 14th May - Masonic meeting in Sydney interrupted by military

1803 22nd - May Governor of Sydney bans Masonic meetings without his permission

1810 1st Jan - Freemason Lachlan Macquarie becomes governor of NSW

1820 12th August - Australian Social Lodge No 260 IC is the first warranted lodge resident in Australia meets for the first time.

1828 - Formation of Tasmanian Lodge No. 313 in Hobart by dispensation.

1834 22nd October - Consecration of the South Australian Lodge of Friendship No. 613 in London

1840 25th March Lodge Australia Felix No 697 EC meets in Melbourne

1842 Victorian John Stephen appointed Pro Grand Master for the Southern portion of Australasia

1850's to 1860's -  The Gold rush in Victoria creates boom in rural population and leads to establishment of wide spread rural lodges.

1867 17th June - Royal Freemasons Homes of Victoria Established

1883 2nd July After several failed attempts in the previous years, a Grand Lodge of Victoria is established with The Hon. George Seth Coppin as Grand Master.

1889 20th March The remaining dissenting Lodges in Victoria join Grand Lodge forming the United Grand Lodge of Victoria.

1908 - 25 Collins Street Melbourne purchased for continued use as a dedicated Masonic hall and meeting place of Grand Lodge.

1937 17th March - New Freemasons Hospital began in Clarendon Street East Melbourne.

1969 Dallas Brooks Hall opened as the New Masonic Center of Victoria

1989 Centenary of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria celebrated.

2006 Freemasons Hospital sold to Epworth Hospitals.


Source http://www.freemasonsvic.net.au/OurHistory/Overview/tabid/248/OurHistory/TimelineOfMasonicHistory/tabid/250/Default.aspx

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