Our Lodge History

Initial meetings to discuss to formation of the Burleigh Masonic Lodge were held in the billiard room of the Tallebudgera Hotel and the Commercial Bank of Australia at West Burleigh in 1922. The first meeting of the Lodge – the dedication and installation ceremony – was held on 26 May 1923.

In January 1924, the Lodge by-laws were amended so that regular meetings would be held on the Saturday on or before the full moon and continued this way until August 1936 when the Lodge’s regular meetings were changed to the third Saturday of the month.

A motion to move the Lodge to Burleigh Heads was carried in November 1934. During December the purchase of the land (for £150) and quotes to erect a building were approved. The first installation meeting at the new location at Burleigh Heads was held on 16 March 1935.

During the 1950s a building committee was established and in 1957 delivered the recommendation that the present building be disposed of and a new one be built on the site. A tender for the work was not accepted until early 1959. During June of the same year the brethren in fact assisted the works by digging trenches so that concrete could be poured. The old building was moved by the Church of England to Palm Beach, reconditioned and repainted, and arrangements made for the Lodge to meet at Coolangatta until the new building was available.

The foundation stone for the current building was laid on Sunday 4 October 1959. The building was dedicated, coinciding with the installation of Worshipful Brother Aitken, on 18 June 1960, by the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Milliner. Candidates were numerous during this period with multiple candidates for degree work being quite frequent.

Work began in July 1987 to further extend and improve the building – finishing it in its present condition. The main hall floor was refurbished and has been in demand for a large variety of activities from community groups ever since.

The time from the early 2000s to present saw an unprecedented period of growth in the membership of the Lodge. Under the guidance of a group of senior members, the business part of the meetings and festive boards were streamlined and improved. A concerted effort was made to ensure the ceremonies were performed to the highest possible standard. During this time the Lodge initiated one or more new members on a monthly basis.

Eventually, the numbers of Master Masons in the Lodge necessitated the acquisition of another warrant, to allow interested members the opportunity of progressing through the offices of the Lodge in a more timely manner. Meridian Lodge No 404, which met in Brisbane and was struggling at the time, amended its by-laws so as to meet at the Burleigh Masonic Centre. The members of Burleigh Lodge were extended membership in Meridian Lodge with the effect that two evening Lodges met in the Burleigh Masonic Centre from 2009.The process was repeated in 2010 when Millennium Lodge No 534, originally based on the Sunshine Coast, also amended its by-laws to meet at Burleigh and the members of Burleigh & Meridian once again had their memberships extended to that Lodge.

Having three Lodges meeting at the Masonic Centre and the members having automatic membership in each has been instrumental to the success of the Lodges. Aside from allowing three ‘lines’ of officers to progress at any given time, it has also given the members the added convenience of having three lodge meetings in any given month to choose to attend – making it easier for members to fit a monthly Lodge meeting into their increasingly busy lives.

Today the Burleigh, Meridian and Millennium Lodges continue to meet on the 4th Wednesday, 1st Monday and 3rd Tuesday of each month respectively (except December and January). True to the spirit of Freemasonry, the members come from all walks of life, are of all ages and come together harmoniously to perform the ceremonies of the Craft and pursue the aims of Freemasonry. Members and their families also meet socially several times each year outside of the Lodge for breakfasts, lunches and events such as bare-foot bowls and black tie dinners.