{"id":311160,"date":"2021-12-11T19:26:03","date_gmt":"2021-12-11T09:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=311160"},"modified":"2021-12-11T19:42:34","modified_gmt":"2021-12-11T09:42:34","slug":"new-life-for-old-masonic-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/12\/11\/new-life-for-old-masonic-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"New Life For Old Masonic Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Former Nanango councillor Bill Marshall was Master at the Lodge in 1990-91 … Bill joined the Masons in 1978 and the Nanango 134 Lodge in 1984; over the years he held all the different offices in the society<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 11, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanango’s old Masonic Hall has had new life breathed into it, thanks to a collaboration between the Heritage Community Branch Nanango and the Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA).<\/p>\n

Freemason Lodge 134 was established in 1901 but after many years of serving the local community was decommissioned in 2016.<\/p>\n

Nanango residents were keen to keep the historic building in Gipps Street in local hands and the\u00a0Trustees agreed to gift the building, contents and land to the Nanango Historical Society.<\/p>\n

When the Society folded, Heritage Nanango Community Funding stepped in, taking over the property, restoring the front entrance and repainting the building.<\/p>\n

It was then entrusted to NaTDA to take over management of the facility and bring it back into community use.<\/p>\n

The official opening of the new Museum of Masonic Memorabilia and Community Hall occurred on December 3.<\/p>\n

The Lodge building provides an unique opportunity to explore Freemasonry and learn more about its history and symbolism.<\/strong><\/p>\n

All the original furniture and mosaic pavement remains inside the Hall.<\/p>\n

New display cases have been installed to house historic items linked to the Lodge, including Masonic jewellery and medals, swords, gavels, aprons and Bibles.<\/p>\n

HNCF chair Wendy Zerbst said it was unique in Queensland – and possibly in Australia – for the Lodge memorabilia and the building to be in the same place.<\/p>\n

Tours of the old Masonic Hall will be offered between 10:00am and noon on Nanango Market Days (ie. the first Saturday of every month) or at other times by appointment.<\/p>\n

It will also be available to hire for small functions.<\/p>\n

Opening night featured a special exhibition of nature studies by Nanango photographer Charlie Spagalli.<\/p>\n