The New Masonic-Hall.

Rare, c.19th hand coloured engraving of the proposed Masonic Hall to built on the original building in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

The building was the principal meeting place of the city’s Masonic lodges from 1868 and accommodated lodges under the English, Irish and Scottish constitutions. In 1882 the ageing building was intended to be replaced by a larger structure, for which John Harry Grainger and Charles D’Ebro won the architectural competition. The proposed rebuilding was subsequently postponed, and the Masonic fraternity later established its new principal hall in Collins Street East. The engraving was published in the Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil.

From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 914558
State Library New South Wales: REF1/MAV/FM4/9236-9239
State Library Victoria: PCINF AS 06-09-73 P.104