Why is this place significant?

Why is this place Category 1 / Category 2?

The Port Chalmers Marine Lodge was built in 1863 for the Port Chalmers Marine Lodge E.C.942, and has been home to a number of freemason lodge groups from the Port Chalmers community. It is located on Wickliffe Terrace. Freemasonry is a ritual based, male only benevolent institution, which promotes ethical conduct and mutual support for its members. It was first practised in New Zealand in 1842. The movement grew out of trade and guild organisations in England in eighteenth century and provided mutual social support for members. Lodges were a prominent part of the social landscape in goldfields Otago, with their activities noted in newspapers, and a Lodge being present in many of the small towns. There has been little analysis on their role or contributions to the community. A mason's lodge originally referred to a building or structure where stonemasons kept their tools, had meals, rested and received their pay. In Freemasonry the lodge refers to the basic unit of the organisation. During the nineteenth century purpose-built lodges or meeting halls were constructed, replacing the private or public houses which had been used for the meetings. The first Dunedin lodge was The Lodge of Otago, No. 844, E.C., established in 1860. Port Chalmers freemasons established their lodge in November 1862, named the 'Marine Lodge'. The meetings of the lodge were initially held at the former Custom House on the corner of Beach and Mount streets. The Otago Daily Times on Saturday 29 November 1862 reported the consecration of the lodge: The Masonic Lodge, towards the foundation of which the Brethren in Port Chalmers have for some time past devoted their energies, was inaugurated on Thursday night, and the occasion was seized for a display of hospitality towards their Dunedin Brethren. Precisely at 6 o'clock the Pride of the Yarra, which had been placed at the disposal of the Dunedin Lodges, hoisted the Masonic ensign, ('the square and compasses'), and steamed down to the Port, and soon after the arrival the Brethren assembled at the School House, which had been tastefully decorated with flags, ferns, and Masonic emblems for the occasion. The ceremony of inauguration was at once proceeded with by the Installing Officer, P.M. Brother Nathan, P.P.G.J.W., under the English constitution, assisted by P.M. Brother James, the W.M. (Brother Leers) having appointed his officers for the ensuring year, and the usual business of the lodge having been gone through, the Brethren adjourned to the Royal Hotel, where a table replete with most of the good things of this life awaited them, to which hearty justice was done. The usual amount of Masonic and loyal stories interspersed with songs brought the evening to a close, and the steamer with the most of the Dunedin brothers, returned to Dunedin at the early hour of three a.m. The Lodge was built on Wickliffe Terrace, and was constructed of locally quarried breccia. The building was designed by Bro. Charles Mountfort (circa 1827-1918). Charles Mountfort (brother of architect Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort) was a surveyor, working in Otago from the mid 1850s until the late 1860s. The Lodge was built by Bro. James Richardson (born circa 1823). Richardson was a Port Chalmers builder, carpenter and timber merchant. The Hall was the first stone building in the area. It was a simple rectangular-plan single-gable structure with no exterior ornamentation, save the lantern on the peak of the gable. It contrasts strongly with the highly ornamented Masonic Lodges of the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Masonic Hall was used as a meeting place for other Friendly Societies in Port Chalmers. The Ancient Order of Foresters used the Hall until its own premises were built in 1876. Similarly the Loyal Prince of Wales Lodge, No. 5254 M.U.I.O.O.F. also used the Masonic Hall. Since then, the Hall has been used by Freemasons around Port Chalmers for their meetings. The Friendly Society Movement, including Freemasonry has contributed to the community of Port Chalmers. The Hall has been used by the wider community. Congregationalists in Port Chalmers used the building for their regular services on Sundays until they built the Congregational Church. In 2004 the Lodge was sold and since that time has been used as a private residence and from 2005 as a live music venue.

The single-storey rectangular-plan Lodge is constructed from locally quarried breccia. Originally access was through an arched door in the south west façade, but this was enclosed by a porch at a date prior to 1886. There is a single door on the south east elevation which does not appear in earlier photographs. The roof has two skylights installed on the north west side. The main street elevation has been plastered, with the Masonic square and compasses picked out in relief. Compasses represent the sun, virtue, the measure of life and conduct, and the additional light to instruct in duty and keep passions within bounds. The square is a Masonic instrument used to measure an angle of ninety degrees, which implies exactness, and represents a symbol of morality. Altogether, the symbol represents the emblems of stonemasonry. Entry is through a porch on the south west elevation. The porch provides assess to the vestibule, and also houses a toilet. The porch is plastered brick with a concrete floor. The vestibule provides stair access to the mezzanine floor, and to a small ancillary room. The vestibule walls and ceiling are match-lined with moulded architraving. Timber stairs provide access to the mezzanine and there are cupboards beneath them. The main hall or anteroom adjoins the vestibule. The main hall is lined with hardboard and has timber skirting with exposed conduit. A picture rail runs around the hall at 2.5m above the floor level. The pitched ceiling is hardboard-lined with exposed trusses. The trusses are a dominant feature of the hall. A seating plinth runs around the perimeter of the room, and steps lead up to a dais at the north east end. The floor is carpeted, with tongue and grooved floorboards, and has Masonic chequer board in the centre. The mezzanine floor provided a supper room when the hall operated as a Masonic lodge, and has been used as living quarters when the building was used as a residence. There are cupboards, constructed with tongue and grooved timber along one side and the remainder of the area is largely lined with board and batten.

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A fully referenced registration report is available from the NZHPT Otago/Southland Area Office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.