A Brief History of ‘The Old Freemasons Hall’

The socio-geographic context

• Emerald Hill is the weather worn cone of a volcano 16 million years old. The South Melbourne Town Hall sits on its peak.
• The native owners of the land at the time of white settlement were the Yalukit-willam clan of the Kulin nation.
• Access to the Melbourne town centre was gained over a timber bridge (on the site of Princes Bridge). This was opened in 1850.
• Land Sales began in July 1852 with the grid subdivision cut by the St Kilda railway running along the east side of Ferrars Street in 1855.
• Street names in the new subdivision honoured aristocrats (North-south) and local interests (East-west)
• In Autumn 1853 a fever epidemic swept through the canvas town that was Emerald Hill, with ladies from the Dorcas Society of the Church of England rendering much assistance.
• Land sales progressed with the five blocks on the western side of Ferrars Street (Dorcas Street to Bank Street) purchased by Thomas Budds Payne on 8 March 1853.
• Emerald Hill was created a Borough May 1855 and proclaimed a Town March 1872 then a City on 21 September 1883.
• On 25 September 1883, the City was renamed South Melbourne.

The Building

• The block now occupied by the Melbourne Camera Club remained vacant for many years until the Yarra Yarra Lodge (Freemason) purchased the site in November 1875
• The site was 80 feet by 40 feet and sold for 11 pound 15 shillings per foot – converts to $1,320.60.
• Architects Adamson and McKean of 35 Queen Street were instructed to draw up plans with the advertisement appearing in the Age on 26 April 1876.
• No records have been identified but the design of the building would have been based on existing buildings in the United Kingdom.
• Builder Leonard Haffner was the successful tenderer at 1,800 pounds which converts to $202,200 (2017)
• The foundation stone was laid by the Worshipful Master, Brother S.W. Hart on 15 June 1876
• In accordance with Masonic practice, the Temple faced East. Symbolic pillars on both the Dorcas and Ferrars Street Façades and on the walls of the upper hall represent the pillars of King Solomon’s temple.
• The Building was completed in November 1876.
• The Lodge was financially over-committed and by 1881 were forced to sell the building.
• In 1910 the Yarra Yarra Lodge in conjunction with other Lodges in the South Melbourne area re-acquired the building.
• Growth in membership caused the Lodges to seek a larger building and in 1925, The Old Freemasons Hall was sold.
• The property passed through several owners including Joseph Taylor who operated a motor business, Talbot Motors from 1927 for 40 years.
• Various owners failed to carry out the necessary maintenance on the building with the City of South Melbourne purchasing the site on 18 February 1975 for $35,000.
• Architect Peter S. Staughton was commissioned by council to report on the condition of the Hall and make recommendations for its repair and conservation.
• After further neglect, the South Melbourne Council sold the building to the Melbourne Camera Club (MCC) on the 10 August 1979 for $35,000.
• In 1980, the Hall was re-opened by the Premier of Victoria, Dick Hamer after the investment of a further $83,420 to restore the building to its current form.
• Since 1980 the building has been continuously occupied by the MCC as sole owners

Occupants of the building

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