Ghosts of the Barossa Valley: Old Freemason's Lodge

Ghosts of the Barossa Valley: Old Freemason's Lodge

 Angaston’s first public library was founded in 1856. Due to its small size, it was found inadequate by locals who needed space to read and learn. A meeting was held in town, and it was decided a Mechanics Institute would be built. The local Oddfellow’s society of the ‘Loyal Park Lodge, Manchester Unity of Oddfellows’ (founded in Angaston on Dec 14, 1855) was also in need of bigger premises. The Oddfellow’s put a motion forward that they would like to pool their monies with that of the Mechanic Institute and build one large building to meet the needs of everyone.

A ‘Mechanic’s Institute’ is an archaic term used to describe a ‘working-class’ place of learning. In the late 1700s, early 1800’s, “mechanic” was anyone who worked as a tradesperson, craftsperson, artisan, and was generally working-class people. They were dubbed ‘poor man’s universities’ and later became known as trade-schools.

Mr G.F. Angas donated land, and a large two-story building was erected. It contained a library, a reading room on the upper floor, a school in the basement and a large room on the ground floor for the Oddfellow’s Lodge, and a large institute hall. The building was officially opened by J.H. Angas in 1870.

Over time, the library moved from the top floor into the basement. Other sections of the building were used as a Sunday School. Balls were held in the hall, the basement was used for meetings, flower shows, weekly dancing and elocution recitals. An upstairs room was utilised by local barber Tom Dawson, after losing his premises in a fire.

 In 1905, The Barossa Masonic Lodge No. 49 received its official warrant, and in 1907, raised the funds to buy the entire building. The Loyal Park Lodge Oddfellow’s, under a previous agreement, reserved its right to use its original lodge room. The front of the building was redesigned by the Freemason, and a new inscription applied which read “Masonic Hall 1910”.

Today the old Freemason Lodge is a bed and breakfast.

 There has long been a rumour that this building is haunted, but the story is a very weak one with almost no evidence. It contains just two lines which were dug out from a very old book no longer in print:

“It has been noted that a figure is often seen leaving the Hall and crossing the street, simply disappearing before spectators’ eyes as his feet hit the pavement on the other side of the road”

 Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Bibliography

Chinner, B., & Berry, P., ‘Angaston sketchbook’, (Rigby Adelaide 1976).

Baragwanath, P., ‘Mechanics’ Institutes role in Australia’s history’, The Guardian: The Worker’s Weekly, Vol.1526, (9 November 2011), https://www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2011/1526/12-mechanics-institutes.html, accessed 18 April 2019.

1936, Angaston and Nuriootpa: centenary souvenir, 1936, The Leader, Angaston viewed 18 April 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-21483483

Freemason Grand Lodge - Sinister by Design Part IV

Sinister by Design: Part 4

Grand Freemason Lodge – Adelaide

Most people are well aware of the long-standing Freemason society that spans the western world.
 It is one of the longest-running "secret" societies in the world and has created a great deal of speculation over what it really does, purely by being so secretive over the past couple of centuries.

Today we are visiting another location designed by Adelaide’s own Freemason architect, John Queten Bruce.

Don't let the name of this blog series fool you, I am actually a very big fan of his work, and admire a lot of his designs, but to put it simply, there seems to be a connection of hauntings and mysteries surrounding the grand houses and buildings he designed.

Is there a link to his being a Freemason?

Did he knowingly add an element to his designs that would attract the supernatural to his buildings?

That's not something anyone but Mr Bruce and his associates will know for sure, but there does seem to be circumstantial evidence to persist in looking further into his work and designs and a supernatural, or paranormal connection.

The Freemason Grand Lodge is another of Bruce's designs in partnership with W. H. Harral who worked as a superintendent.

The land was first purchased in 1922 with the foundation stone, laid under with traditional Freemason ceremony, three years later.

In 1927, the lodge rooms on the third and fourth floor were dedicated.

It is a remarkable landmark on North Terrace with its four massive columns over the entranceway and the words “Audi Vide Tace”, Latin for “Hear, see, be silent, if you would live in peace” carved in a stone inscription above the door and a further inscription stating, “Erected and Dedicated to the Great Architect of the Universe AD 1925”

The Freemason's themselves run their own tour of the building every Thursday, which gives insights into the history, the symbolism and who some of Adelaide's most notable Freemason were as well as a ghost story or two!

There is also a small collection of memorabilia on display on the ground floor and a museum on the mezzanine level. 

You can hear, and see more of the Grand Lodge in Adelaide via this news story, where the ABC get an inside look into the building, and some insight into the spooky goings-on within.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/06/22/2605121.htm?site=adelaide

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

All content on “Eidolon Paranormal & The Haunts of Adelaide” site, blog and corresponding media pages (eg Facebook, twitter etc) is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any means or process without the written permission of the author. © 2012, 2013

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Sinister By Design

Sinister By Design?

John Quinton Bruce

Today's blog title is a little dramatic, and maybe a little misleading! It was designed to attract your attention to a story of three buildings in South Australia, and one of their designer's, architect, John Quinton Bruce.

While today I will touch briefly on the building designs, I will not go into depth on any one building in particular, nor the ghost story associated with it, instead, I will save that for future writings. Today's blog will be a brief biography of the architect of the buildings, John Quinton Bruce.

Mr Bruce was born on the 17th of April 1865, born at sea near the island of Tobago in the West Indies. The son of a Ship-master he arrived in Adelaide in 1869. 
 Bruce was educated at the Pulteney Grammar School and was a well-rounded athlete in his youth, enjoying competition rowing and swimming.

A member of the Adelaide Racing Club, The Adelaide Turf Club and a lifetime member of the Adelaide Rowing Club.

Headstone North Road Anglican Cemetery

In 1880, Bruce became an apprentice of E.H. Bayer of the architectural firm, “Bayer & Withall”. He remained with the company after finishing his apprenticeship and taking the position of drafts-man.

In 1884 he moved on to study surveying with Evans and Evans and then spent some time with architect William Cumming.
  Eventually, Bruce returned to Bayer & Whitall as their chief draftsman.

From 1894 until 1912, he worked independently taking on an employee, Louis Laybourne Smith as a draughtsman. 
From 1912 until 1916, he went into a partnership with fellow architects, working under the name, “Bruce, Wooldridge & Harral”. The partnership extended from 1916 until 1919, when Bruce, once again became an independent.

John Bruce was welcomed as a member of the South Australian Institute of Architects in November of 1894, gaining his Fellowship in 1897. He held the position of Vice President from 1905 and held the office of President from 1909 to 1911

Soldiers Memorial Hall - Renmark, South Australia

The Architecture of John Quinton Bruce is somewhat flamboyant. He designed a number of Adelaide's buildings and residences in the “Federation” style.

Some of his building designs include the Woodville Institute, Electra House (131- 133 King William Street), The Soldiers Memorial Hall and Hospital in Renmark.

Bruce is also credited with three buildings that have long rumoured to be haunted in South Australia;

 Carclew House built on Montefiore Hill in North Adelaide in 1901.

 The Freemasons Grand Lodge found at 254-164 on North Terrace in Adelaide.

 The house of Fred Scarfe, founder of iconic Adelaide business “Harris Scarfe”, found on Robe Terrace in North Adelaide. sometimes referred to as "Stonehenge".

House built for Frank Scarfe on robe Terrace, Noth Adelaide

  One has to ponder the influence the Freemason mysticism and mythology had over the architectural designs that Mr Bruce initiated. As an active member of Adelaide's Freemason society, and a past “Master”, there are aspects of Freemason symbolism in almost all his designs.

Grand Freemason Lodge, North Terrace, Adelaide.

It is probably not fair to say that this symbolism is linked to the hauntings that are rumoured in each building, as other works of Mr Bruce have not had the association of alleged hauntings. However, with claims of supernatural goings-on dogging the Freemasons for decades, it isn't hard for many to believe that there could be other forces at work, possibly in the very design, or layout of these three buildings all claimed to be haunted.

Mr Bruce died on the 8th of January 1930 at the age of 64 after contracting pneumonia. Three years prior he had suffered from a stroke, which led to a decline in his health and mobility. 

 Bruce left a widow and one daughter, Mrs H Clark of Eden Hills.

Today,  long after his death, his influence is witnessed with his grand designs that still present truly inspiring facades and interesting interiors. The echo of John Quenton Bruce will long be seen in Adelaide's grand buildings.

© 2012

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