Blackall Masonic Temple

Blackall Masonic Temple is a heritage-listed masonic temple at Hawthorn Street, Blackall, Blackall-Tambo Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1908. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.HistoryThe Masonic temple is the second temple in and around Blackall and was completed in 1908.Freemasonry spread from New South Wales into Queensland in individual lodges. The first Freemason's lodge in Queensland was established in 1859, shortly before Separation from New South Wales. New lodges were formed as settlement spread.Blackall was surveyed and gazetted as a town in 1868. It served as a commercial and social centre for pastoral stations in the surrounding area and was the major western town until eclipsed by Barcaldine, which was founded to serve the terminus of the Central Western Railway in 1886. Freemasonry was established in Blackall in May 1887 when a group of seven masons met at the Methodist Church, whose Minister was a Freemason, in order to found a lodge. By the end of the year there were 32 members. The first candidate initiated, James McKenzie, provided a brick building in Short Street to be used as a temple. This was used until 1905-6 when the owner required the building for other purposes. It was demolished in 1958.For a time, the lodge then met at the former Government Lands Office, but this was not convenient and it was decided to construct a new building. A.E. Hewer, R.E. Burton and J.H. Hart donated an acre of land in Hawthorne Street and a two storey building was erected on it. Furniture which is still in use was donated by A.H. Whittingham. The new building was dedicated in May 1908, exactly 21 years after the lodge was first established and cost £1603 including the supply of gas and running water.