The foundation stone for this Masonic Hall in Brougham Street was laid on 27 December 1864. The architects were Messrs. Watson and Brown and the builders Messrs Kelly and Burton. (Plans in Puke Ariki collection ARC2013-1546)
The lodge was officially opened on 24 June 1865 and a "Freemason's Ball" was held there on 13 July 1865. The Hall was described as being "50 feet by 26 feet", only just big enough to accommodate the crowd of over 200.
According to the Fred Butler diaries (Puke Ariki archives) the Hall was sold to the Salvation Army in July 1890. They in turn occupied the building until the opening of the citadel on the Powderham/Brougham Street corner in 1927. It's not known when the building was demolished, but it seems likely it was in the late 1920s. In July 1932 the Taranaki Daily News reported on a house fire in Devon Street West, noting that the attic was built with timber from the "old Masonic hall in Brougham Street".
Located at 75 Brougham Street, opposite the east gate to St Mary's Cathedral. Town section 733.
Related documents and plans:
Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 P48 and I3 P500 (Town Section 733)
Taranaki DP965 Sheet 1 Brougham Street (1896), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP4145 Sheet 1 Brougham Street (1921), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Please do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
