Barcaldine Masonic Temple
Barcaldine Masonic Temple | |
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Location | 39 Beech Street, Barcaldine, Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia |
Coordinates | 23°33′20″S 145°17′17″E / 23.5556°S 145.288°E |
Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
Built | 1900 |
Official name | Barcaldine Masonic Temple, Comet Masonic Temple |
Type | state heritage (built) |
Designated | 21 October 1992 |
Reference no. | 600020 |
Significant period | 1900 (fabric) |
Barcaldine Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed
History
The Masonic temple at Barcaldine was constructed in 1901 as the second temple of the Comet Lodge, the first having been moved from Dingo Creek in stages following the growth of the railway line.[1]
A new and larger temple was constructed in 1900 for a cost of £720 and is said to have been based on the original. It was dedicated in 1901 and continued to make an important contribution to the life of the town as a venue for social interaction. Conservation work was undertaken on the building in the early 1980s, when the painted "masonry" effect on the facade was reinstated.[1]
Description
The masonic temple is located on the west side of Beech Street, Barcaldine. It is a two-storey, timber-framed building set on low stumps with a gambrel corrugated iron clad roof with triangular dormers on the north and south sides. The exterior is clad plainly in vertical corrugated iron on the back and sides.[1]
The most striking feature of the building is the elaborate treatment of the front, which is clad with horizontal timber boards painted to mimic
The interior is clad with tongue and groove timber boards and is very intact, retaining the original colour schemes. The ground floor, which is used as a supper room, exhibits a brown dado with hand painted floral frieze. Above this are horizontal tongue and groove boards painted ochre yellow. The room has a series of shallow arched enclosed beams supporting the upper floor. At the rear of the ground floor there are ancillary rooms situated in either corner. Between them is a central entrance which has a section of hit and miss flooring, presumably for the clearing of mud from boots.[1]
From here a timber stair with a simple slatted
Heritage listing
Barcaldine Masonic Temple was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
The Masonic Temple is important in demonstrating the rapid growth of towns along the path of the railway and a reminder of the way in which Freemasonry was established in many western towns by the workers constructing those lines.[1]
The place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland's cultural heritage.
It is a remarkable demonstration of adapting a classical vocabulary to a vernacular style and available materials and the painted mock stonework on the front is a very rare technique in Queensland.[1]
The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.
The Barcaldine temple is important as a characteristic and intact example of a regional Masonic temple, a category of building often prominent in both the streetscape and social life of many country towns.[1]
The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
The Barcaldine temple is important as a characteristic and intact example of a regional Masonic temple, a category of building often prominent in both the streetscape and social life of many country towns.[1]
The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
The Masonic Temple, Barcaldine, has a special association with both lodge members and with the Freemason's movement in Queensland.[1]
References
Attribution
External links
Media related to Barcaldine Masonic Temple at Wikimedia Commons