News & Events

Please be advised that at this stage there is no Masonic activity until 1 July 2020 or as directed by the Grand Master.

Please keep up to date by reading the Grand Master's weekly newsletters. 

Toowoomba members of the world’s oldest fraternal society will throw open its doors in a bid to shed their mysterious image and attract a new generation of community-minded men.

Fourteen Masonic Lodges, home to the region’s Freemasons, will hold a joint open day on Saturday December 14 for curious residents from across the Downs including Toowoomba, Forest Hill, Gatton, Crows Nest, Pittsworth, Oakey, Jondaryan, Millmerran, Clifton and Dalby.

The Freemasons are a global fraternity that dates to the 1500s medieval stonemasons who built castles and cathedrals. The first Queensland Lodge opened in 1859 and membership is currently 5,000 across 250 Lodges throughout Queensland. “Today, we are active in most towns and regions, in the city and bush, mentoring men and working to lead and support community initiatives that change lives for the better,” Grand Master Paul Holland said. “Despite many misapprehensions, we are not a religion, a cult or a conspiracy. Nor do we have any sinister motives or practices,” Mr Holland said. “Our values are non-denominational, ethical and based on deep respect for every human being.” “Much of the secrecy of former times has gone and you’ll find Freemasons are just ordinary men willing to speak about their values and ready to lend a helping hand,” he said.

Members range in age from 18 to mid 90s and all share a commitment to personal development and community service. “When you become a Freemason, you join a long tradition of world leaders and great men in many fields who found inspiration and support in this organisation,” Mr Holland said. “You are embraced into a fellowship that genuinely cares for each of its embers and wants to see them excel and meet life’s challenges with strength and integrity,” he said. Charity is at the heart of Freemasonry, and the Toowoomba Freemasons work with their charity Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland to make a bigger difference in their local community.

Over the past five years, Hand Heart Pocket has provided over $11 million in grants and in-kind support to other non-profit organisations including grants to YellowBridge QLD, Vanguard Laundry Services and the Toowoomba Hospice to name a few. The charity work of Freemasons across Queensland was recognised earlier this year with Hand Heart Pocket receiving the inaugural Queensland Community Foundation's Board of Governors' Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Philanthropy of the Year Awards.

The Masonic Information Afternoon will be held on Saturday 14 December from 3.30pm at the Toowoomba Masonic Centre at 58 Neil Street. Guests are encouraged to RSVP for catering purposes by 11 December to smlodge393@gmail.com or 0427 697 365. All men over 18 years from across the Downs are warmly invited to come along, meet current Freemasons and learn more about the organisation.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Heather Smith, 0403 462 686, heather@wishbone.com.au

2019 Brisbane Open House on Saturday 12 October 2019 was a success. 800 members of the public braved the rain for the opportunity to see our Masonic Memorial Centre. A big thank you to our volunteers; the day wouldn't have been possible without you.

We are looking forward to next year's Brisbane Open House and hope it will be bigger and better than ever.

For more information on Brisbane Open House please click here. 

The process for becoming a Freemason in Queensland is for a man to approach a Freemason and request a set of application papers. Several interviews are conducted, and perhaps the applicant will be invited to several festive boards (Dinners) In order to meet the potential candidate and  gain an insight into his character. Once the Lodge is satisfied that he is a person of good character, the application process is carried and is balloted for – i.e., voted on – and if successful, he is declared a candidate for initiation.  As a candidate he must complete three degrees; the First Second and Third, also known as Initiation, Passing and Raising respectively.  He then becomes a Master Mason and is entitled to take on work within the lodge and be elected to an office. He is then known as a Brother

The Lodge is composed of Officers and members of the Lodge.  As an Officer, he usually begins as a Steward and progresses through the offices to become the Master of the Lodge.  The Master equates to being the President in other organisations.   His Masonic title then changes to Worshipful Brother (Wor. Bro)– a title he retains until he obtains a position in the United Grand Lodge of Queensland, or the District Grand Lodges in Queensland where his title may change to VW Brother. Once he has served his term or terms as Master of a Lodge, he becomes a Past Master and he and the other Past Masters may take office in the Lodge or act as advisors to the Master.

A man may also choose to take Office in the United Grand Lodge of Queensland and work his way through the offices to become The Grand Master.  There is only one Grand Master at a time; he is assisted by a Deputy Grand Master, and an Assistant Grand Master to undertake the work required. It is the Grand Master’s job to oversee the administration of all Lodges in Queensland.  Thus, a Freemason may have the honour of being the Master of his Lodge, but as there were at one time over 500 Lodges in Queensland, the number of Grand Masters is relatively small.

In the 19^th and 20^th centuries many men chose to remain a Master Mason, a member of the Lodge and did not take an office in the Lodge.  This was particularly the case when the Lodges had large numbers of members and it took a great many years for a position to become available.  Additionally, many men chose for family and work reasons not to take office but enjoyed the companionship and personal development being a member of a Lodge provides.  This is still the case today. It was and is very common for men not to be life-long members of Freemasonry and for their membership to lapse due to a number of reasons.  This could include other family and work matters taking priority, a change of residence or financial issues.  A member may resign from Freemasonry at any time. In the case of financial issues if a man does not or cannot pay his lodge dues, he is struck off the roll of members, but can re-join at any time if he makes restitution. 

Masonic rank is the representation of the individual’s status in the Lodge or in Grand Lodge.  In the District Grand Lodges of North Queensland and Carpentaria and United Grand Lodge the members have what are called District Grand Rank or Grand Rank.  Rank may be of two sorts; active Grand Rank and conferred Grand Rank. Active Grand Rank is that held by members who actually hold an Office in District Grand Lodge or Grand Lodge. Conferred Grand Rank is given to members who have not held Grand Office or (mostly due to distance) have not been able to hold a Grand Office but have made a significant contribution to Freemasonry in general.  Such rank takes the form of a title as such as Past Grand “Office-bearer” and the rank may rise from Past Grand Pursuivant to Past Deputy Grand Master.  So, a member with the title of Past Assistant Grand Master may have actually served the office of Assistant Grand Master or he may have been conferred the rank of Past Assistant Grand Master. 

The Rank of Past Grand Master was conferred during the early history of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland; however, this was discontinued by resolution of the Grand Masters of Australasia, some years ago. Thus, these days, only members who have served the Office of Grand Master may have the rank of Past Grand Master.

The Library and Museum at Freemasons Queensland is currently closed for family history research while we prepare for renovations.  During this time, we are also working on our indexes and archival finding aids so that we can provide accurate information to researchers.  Here are some hints to help you find information about your Masonic connection while we are closed.  When we reopen, having background information will also help us find more information if you require it.

To begin - we only hold records of membership relating to Freemasons in Queensland and Papua New Guinea. We do not hold information about partners of our members or their children.  Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation. There is no overarching Australian organisation - Freemasonry in Australia is composed of state-based organisations.  There is no world body for Freemasonry, it is organised on a national or state or provincial base depending on the country.  We use the term Freemasons Queensland to describe our operations, but our formal title is The United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Queensland - shorted to UGLQ or Grand Lodge.

Before the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Queensland was formed in 1921 Freemasonry in Queensland was governed by what are known as District Grand Lodges administered by the countries from which the particular form of Freemasonry originated.  In Queensland, these were the United Grand Lodges of England, Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland, which are separate organisations - we refer to these as jurisdictions. From 1904 to 1921 two Queensland Grand Lodges also administered Freemasonry in this State. These Queensland Lodges were the Grand Lodge of Queensland and Queensland Grand Lodge. Even though they were administered from overseas, records relating to the administration and membership are held from 1859.  This means you do not necessarily have to look overseas for your connection’s details.

Like all family and genealogical research, it is important to know the dates of birth and death of your connection so that you can research them using the sources available outside Freemasons Queensland.

So where can you look for information?

Ancestry.com   has digitised and indexed the membership rolls of the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of Ireland until up until 1921.  These can be searched only through a UK Heritage or World Heritage subscription to Ancestry.com.  If you do not have a subscription these records are available through the Library edition of Ancestry which may be available at your State or local library.   To search for your connection, use your person's name and the keyword Lodge and you may find an entry.  You can also use the Card Catalogue search -   Type in Lodge in the Keyword box - select England or Ireland and then search by name and location.   This may tell you when they first joined Freemasonry and under which jurisdiction.      

Use Trove to link your person's name with search terms such as Freemason, Masonic, Lodge and a locality for example Davis Yungaburra and Lodge will find the obituary of Charles Davis a founding member of Barrine Lodge at Yungaburra in Far North Queensland. Up until the 1960s there were frequent mentions of Freemasonry in the press so don't presume that there will be nothing.  A very useful source can be Funeral Notices which may have a separate notice inserted by the local Lodge and this will provide more information on where your connection might have attended Lodge.

Check your family papers and photographs -   is there a Certificate that gives the name of the Lodge, are there any clues in the family papers as to what organisations your person may have belonged to.  If your person had an apron or what we call Masonic jewels (but look like medals), there may be information on the back of the jewel which will help you.

Once you have found the locality of the Lodge your connection may have belonged to, check the relevant local history collection which may have a copy of the Lodge anniversary publication.  Individual lodges often published Lodge histories at significant anniversaries of their founding such as 50th, 75th, 100th and following anniversaries.

United Grand Lodge of Queensland produces a magazine.   This is variously called “The Ashlar” or “The Queensland Freemason” and copies are held at the State Library of Queensland although the holdings are not complete.  The issues of the magazine may contain items about individuals or Lodges which will help give context to your connection’s involvement in Freemasonry.

Some points to be aware of -

There were many organisations besides Freemasonry which used the term Lodge and Brother these include International Order of Oddfellows (IOOF), Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffalos known as RAOB or the Buffs, Good Templars or the Ancient Order of Foresters.  Even though you might find sources which mention the word Brother or Lodge it does not mean your person was a Freemason.  If there are family photos of people with people with aprons, sashes or other regalia they could be members of other Fraternal or Friendly societies so you may have to do some research using photos from large collections such as the State Library of Queensland.

Your person may have belonged to Freemasonry in another state or country so you may have to contact other jurisdictions.  They will advise you how to go about searching in their records.

For further information on Freemasonry in Queensland we have listed the following sources which may be available at your local library or at the State Library of Queensland, State Libraries in your state and the National Library. 

Introductory Materials

Lauder Dave Freemasonry and Freemasons in Queensland Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland Vol IV No 1 February 1990 pp 33- 41

It's no Secret: Real Men wear Aprons The story of Freemasonry in Australia, Masonic Care Sydney, 2010

Freemasons Queensland website

Freemasonry in Queensland

The history of Freemasonry in Queensland until 1959   The Centennial Story : The history of Freemasonry in Queensland Australia  over the first One Hundred Years  1859 - 1959. United Grand Lodge of Queensland, Brisbane 1959.

150 years of Queensland Freemasonry United Grand Lodge of Queensland, Brisbane, 2016 *

Fowles E W H and White E G (eds) The  Jubilee review of English Freemasonry in Queensland  Issued by the District Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England in Queensland and published by the editors,  Brisbane, 1909

Harley C H Irish Freemasonry in Queensland,  RS Hews and Co Printers, Brisbane , 1930.

Budgen Wayne  Masonic Centres of Queensland  :  Concise histories of the construction and use of Freemason's Halls throughout the State of Queensland  ed.  by  Mechner Jeniffer A, St Lucia, Queensland W Budgen  2005 *

Information on the Grand Masters in Queensland can be found in Henderson Kent The Masonic Grand Masters of Australia Ian Drackford Publishing Pty Ltd Bayswater Australia 1988

* Copies of these publications are available for purchase at the Masonic Memorial Centre 311 Ann St Brisbane

Charity is one of our pillars. Gatton Lodge wanted to engage more with their local community, so for Valentine’s Day, they visited the Lockyer Valley hospital and donated flowers to patients and staff.

“The results were very humbling. Being up close and personal with an act of giving  brought tears of joy, sincere comments of appreciation,” said Wor Bro David Green, Master of Gatton Lodge.

Raphael Lodge presented their Peter & Joan Pascoe Raphael Lodge Masonic Bursary to five worthy recipients. This was the lodge’s 16^th annual presentation, with Raphael Lodge now having assisted 75 students in total, most years with a grant of $2000 to each student to help further their studies.

The bursary is made possible due to the generosity of Mrs Joan Pascoe & the late Bro Peter Pascoe of Raphael Lodge.

Families with young children with disabilities on many occasions struggle to cope with the constant care that is required to support the child in their everyday living. The child can become lonely and bored while the family becomes exhausted and despondent.

BestLife Foundation makes it possible for children with disabilities to build a more independent future. With the support of BestLife they can make friends, build networks and become more independent, benefiting from opportunities to be away from home.

A high level of organisation is required and specialised care essential to achieve the desired outcomes. Understandably, it is expensive.

BestLife provides high level away-from-home experiences for children who live with a disability from 6 to 19 years of age. This includes sleepovers in a purpose-built house within the grounds of Mackenzie Special School. The children are overseen by paid education and healthcare professionals. Every effort is made to match the children by age, interests and ability. At the sleepover, the children can play, share meals (which they help prepare), watch a movie, laugh, sleep and interact with others.

Not all children are up to a sleepover so BestLife also offers daytime programs.

In many cases, the children experience their first taste of independence through these expeditions. 

BestLife was founded in 2013 by families of young people living with disability. It’s management is largely run by volunteers. However, money is required to train teachers, healthcare and allied professionals to provide the high-level support needed for the children. Funding is also required to hire the venue, provide food and resource materials, etc.

A lack of government funding in this area severely restricts the number of children who can be accommodated in the various programs and the ability of the programs to operate successfully.

Dunellan Lodge set about fundraising to support BestLife in its programs and believe any assistance that can aid our children with a disability is a valuable and much needed contribution to this specific section of our community. Dunellan Lodge applaud BestLife for the dedication and work it is undertaking to help make a better life for the families and children placed in this situation.

The Lodge raised $600, and with the valuable assistance of Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland dollar-for-dollar scheme, four children with disability were able to be covered by the program from the $1200 contribution.

Dunellan Lodge is proud to be associated with Hand Heart Pocket and BestLife in supporting families and children with disability.

As President of the Australian Medical Association Queensland, Queensland Freemason and columnist for our quarterly magazine, Dr Bill Boyd had a chance meeting.

“I had the privilege of meeting Dr Wylie Gibbons and his wife Erica at a special presentation,” he said. The AMA Queensland presented Dr Gibbons with a bound copy of his impressive scientific work on Gastric hypothermia as a treatment for catastrophic bleeding.

“It happened that Dr Gibbons mentioned Freemasonry in passing and after that we got on extremely well indeed.”

Dr Gibbons wore a Royal Order of Scotland lapel pin. He celebrated his 90^th birthday in January.

Looking to do something for their community, Dalby United Lodge No 180 chose to contribute to Karingal Nursing Home. Secretary of the Lodge, Wor Bro David Wheelehen’s wife works at the nursing home, so the lodge asked what they really needed. The Home gave them a list of options, and the Lodge decided two recliner chairs would be most valuable, raising funds through a local cent sale auction and tickets, giving away fun prizes.

The recliners chosen are transportable, with wheels that allow nurses to collect less-mobile residents from their rooms and move them to the common areas. They have special pressure points and a generous amount of foam to help make residents comfortable. The recliners are made in Queensland and while manufacturing took some time, as they are in high demand, the wait was worth it.

With a dollar-for-dollar subsidy from Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland, they were able to present two recliners, valued at $2190 each. Representatives Wor Bro David Wheelehen, Wor Bro Jeffrey Parkes and VW Bro Peter Horn attended the presentation.

On behalf of Freemasons Queensland, Australia, I have great pleasure in inviting you to attend the Grand Installation of RW Bro Paul Holland, DGM and Grand Master-elect.

The celebrations will begin with a Meet & Greet Function, on Friday, 5th July 2019 and conclude with a Farewell Luncheon on Sunday, 7th July 2019.

Robyn and I look forward to welcoming you to Queensland. We encourage you to take the opportunity to extend your stay to visit some of the many attractions that our beautiful state has to offer

MW Bro Alan Townson, Grand Master

Please find more information about these events and how to buy tickets on our Eventbrite page.

Qualified Members of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland are invited to the March 2019 Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Queensland.

The QC will be held at the Masonic Memorial Centre, 311 Ann Street Brisbane on Wednesday 6 March 2019 commencing at 7:30 pm.

Attendees are requested to be seated in Grand Hall no later that 7:15 pm.

Please note if you do not purchase a ticket beforehand on our Eventbrite page you cannot attend.

the December Quarterly Communication will be held Wednesday 5 December 2018 at the Masonic Memorial Centre, Ann Street, Brisbane.
 
Members are requested to be seated by 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start.

The Ladies Dinner will be held concurrently. Ladies are requested to be seated by 7:00pm for a 7:15pm start in Supper Room 2 on level 2 of the Masonic Memorial Centre. 

RSVP by close of business 1 December 2018

The Ladie's Dinner Invitation is in the Member Materials section of the website, or here. 

In November please come to a Remembrance Day Ceremony at Townsville Masonic Centre.

The Grand Lodge of Western Australia extends a cordial invitation to attend the Grand Installation of the Grand Master Elect, RW Bro Peter Kirwan, Deputy Grand Master in the Grand Ball Room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Perth at 6:00pm on Friday 26 October 2018.

The ceremony will be attended by Grand Masters, their ladies, partners and delegations from the Australian and New Zealand Grand Lodges together with several Grand Lodges from the Indian Ocean region. Freemasons from all over Western Australia will join this event. This special occasion is also open to non-freemasons and are invited to attend the full traditional installation ceremony.

There will be a variety of events organised for the weekend, where you can look forward to making new friendships and strengthening old ones.

For registrations and details please click here or on the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/grand-installation-of-the-grand-lodge-of-wa-2018-tickets-45011246851

Your host Lodge for this Gathering of the Clans (GOTC) 2018 is Southport Lodge No 62 UGLQ. Coincidentally it will be 20 years since we last hosted it and we are looking forward to making it a great event.

All events for the GOTC 2018 are being held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Ross Street BENOWA QLD 4217

Meet and Greet on Friday Night 28/9/2018 at 6:30 PM

Meet and Greet on Level 21 for introductions, drinks and chit chat then dinner in a restaurant at RACV Royal Pines.  Costs to be borne by individual attendees.

1^st Degree Ceremony followed by a Demonstration of “The Auld Scots Degree” on Saturday Afternoon 29/9/2018 at 1:30 PM

Benowa Ballroom 1^st Degree Ceremony ( only for Freemasons) followed by a demonstration of “The Auld Scots Degree”.

Ladies High Tea Saturday Afternoon 29/9/2018 at 1:00 PM

Ladies High Tea on Level 21 Cost $36 per head (payment via the GOTC 2018 website booking page. Those Ladies that are wanting champers pay individually direct to RACV on the day).

Saturday Evening 29/9/2018 at 6-30 PM FOR 7-00 PM (Drinks available at the bar located outside the Grand Ballroom from 6-30 pm) Gala Banquet in Grand Ballroom.

“Authentic and Very Serious Address to the Haggiss”, entrée of Haggiss, Tatties and Neeps, Main course of alternate drop meals and desserts of alternate drop followed by tea and coffee. Cost is $120 per head (Payment via the GOTC 2018 website booking page) with attendees responsible for their own drinks, bar prices are very reasonable.. We will have entertainment featuring Scottish Pipers, Scottish Highland Dancers and a Professional DJ.

Our Nominated Not For Profit Charity for GOTC 2018

We have chosen The Sanctuary as our nominated not for profit charitable organisation for our fundraising efforts for GOTC 2018. It is a local Gold Coast organisation that provides refuge and assistance to woman and children who have been subjected to domestic violence.

We extend to Queensland Freemasons and their partners and ladies a cordial invitation to attend the Grand Proclamation, Winter Quarterly Communication and associated ladies’ afternoon tea at the Masonic Memorial Centre, 311 Ann Street, Brisbane on Saturday 7 July 2018.

The ceremony will consist of the proclamation of our current Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Alan Maurice Townson and our Deputy Grand Master Right Worshipful Brother Paul Andrew Holland, and the investiture of our new Assistant Grand Master Right Worshipful Brother Campbell Denyer and Grand Officers.

If you wish to attend the Grand Proclamation banquet, please download and complete the registration form, then save and return it to membership@uglq.org.au by Friday 22 June 2018.

Combined Winter Quarterly Communication

This year, the Winter Quarterly Communication will be held prior to the Grand Proclamation on Saturday 7 July.

Ladies’ afternoon tea

A ladies’ afternoon tea will be held in Supper Room 2 from 2-4pm during the Quarterly Communication.

Master Masons are invited to attend a special lecture hosted by Barron Barnett Lodge on Wednesday 21 March 2018 7.15pm at the Ann Street Memorial Masonic Centre. 

Travel back in time with Wor Bro Kevin Roberts, formerly of Madang Lodge No 380 UGLQ, as he recalls an important chapter of Australian maritime history when the Burns Philp fleet provided the link between Australia’s eastern seaboard and the myriad Papua New Guinea island ports; an era where Freemasonry held sway in our northern neighbour and aboard the interesting Bulolo, who morphed into a WWII Royal Navy Ship before returning to calmer pursuits.

You are invited to attend a remembrance ceremony hosted by Northgate Remembrance Lodge on Friday 10 November 2017, 7pm at the Kedron Masonic Centre. 

The ceremony will honour Freemasons who paid the supreme sacrifice for Australia as well as those others who served.