September 23, 2016
In a week’s time, Freemason Lodge 134 in Nanango – one of the oldest lodges in Queensland – will officially close its doors for the last time.
But the remaining members have made sure that the history of the Lodge will live on, just in a different location.
When a Lodge closes, the property usually reverts to the main office in Brisbane.
But Master of the Lodge David Bradbury said the Trustees on this occasion had agreed to gift the building, contents and land to the Nanango Historical Society.
Society president Ros Gregor said the building would be shifted to Ringsfield House, with assistance from the Heritage Bank Nanango and the South Burnett Regional Council.
The land would be sold to help defray the costs of the move.
Ros said the anteroom of the building would become a luncheon room for Ringsfield visitors, but the main meeting room would be preserved “as is” as a tribute to the history of Masonry in the Nanango area.
All the chairs and fittings, the Masonic symbols and memorabilia would remain for visitors to inspect.
The meeting room is unusual in that as well as having the usual chequered floor – the “mosaic pavement” – the ceiling is decorated with stars for the “Celestial Lodge”.
Lodge 134 was formed in 1901, and shifted into its building in 1902.
The building and land will become the property of Nanango Historical Society on October 1.
