Folded document announcing the Mount Alexander Lodge No. 8 Installation of Bro. Arnold William Baglin (Master Elect), Castlemaine 23 April, 1949.Waller & Chester Print.clubs, social, mount alexander lodge no 8 install

Mount Alexander Lodge, No. 8, U.G.L. Vic. Installation of Bro. Arnold William Baglin as Master and Investiture of Officers. The ceremony conducted by R. W. Bro. S. Proud, Junior Grand Warden. Representing the M. W. Grandmaster and assisted by Grand Officers. Freemasons' Hall Castlemaine, 3450, Saturday, April 23rd, 1949.clubs, social, mount alexander lodge no 8

Offset printing with ink on paper.Bro. N Stewart, Duke Street, Castlemaine. Dear Sir, Mr Leslie George Lobb, Garage Prop. Castlemaine has been proposed as a Member of the Mount Alexander lodge of Freemason's and has given your name as a referee from whom inquiries may be made. I would be glad to receive at your earliest convenience your report as to his character, history, standing and ideals. Any communication will be treated in strictest confidence. I am, Yeours Faithfully, L.G. Lloyd, Secretarymount alexander lodge

The Ballarat Courier has been published in Ballarat for over 100 yearsTwelve page broadsheet with information including Melba's performance at her Majesty's Theatre, Opening of Loreto Chapel, Hospital presidential protraits of Alexander Milelr and J.G. McDonald, Lal Lal Races, Henry McEwan obituary, James Long funeral, bullfight, Buninyong Lodge Masonic Installation, the bill giving female suffrage, and much morenewspaper, ballarat, women's vote, loreto convent, h. marshall, mrs becker, george brehaut, caroline tarrant, melba at her majesty's, nellie melba, alex miller, bull fight, masonic installation, buninyong masonic lodge, lal lal races, henry mcewan, ballarat courier

A picture of the original Gordon Lodge lodge-room of 1886 - room currently in use by the Lodge's artist-in-residence. Below is a newspaper article from the North Melbourne Advertiser (Vic: 1873 - 1894) for Friday 22 April 1887 that describes the architecture of the building at the time of its completion. From some of the details included in the article it is obvious that the journalist who wrote the article was a Freemason. THE MASONIC HALL ASCOT VALE North Melbourne Advertiser (Vic. : 1873 - 1894) Friday 22 April 1887 THE MASONIC HALL ASCOT VALE The now Masonic Hall, Ascot Vale, the foundation stone of which was laid by the Worshipful Master of the Gordon Lodge (Bro, W. F. Lamonby) in October last has just been completed, and will be formally opened: with grand Masonic ball on the 13th prox. The hall stands on a fine block of land having a frontage of 50ft to the Maribyrnong road by a depth of 130 ft., and is built of brick and cement on a most substantial foundation of bluestone. The Tuscan style of architecture has been adopted with the most successful result, and the front design which is especially handsome, includes four massive pilasters with frieze architrave and enriched cornice, forming the entablature of the order,- and giving a most imposing appearance. The front door, over which are the masonic emblems, is seven feet wide, and two escape doors made to open outwards in compliance with the Central Board of Health regulations are also provided, in case of emergency. In the vestibule is a very fine elliptic arch with keystone enriched with fruit, and the whole floor, 9ft. 6in. wide, is laid with Cawkwell's encaustic tyles. On the right, of tile vestibule is a commodious committee room 22ft. by 12ft 6in with side entrance for members, so that in case the main hall is engaged no inconvenience need be caused. On the left is the Secretary's room, and off this again is a staircase cellar. The vestibule is well lighted with two exceedingly pretty chandeliers, which have a very pleasing effect and give it a nice bright appearance ascending a handsome staircase leading from the vestibule the upper storey is reached, and here everything is splendidly arranged, especially 'the Lodge Room, which is a model of neatness and of comfort. The dimensions are 28ft. x 22ft 6in. with an elevation of 17ft. 6in. to the beautiful cove ceiling, which is quite a work of art. At the east end of the room on a raised dais is the master's chair with the masonic emblems, and neat forms of polished kauri are placed at the sides for members, about 150 of whom can be accommodated. The lighting and ventilation have both been well attended to and all is very complete. The main hall is 75ft. by 35 ft. with a stage 15ft. deep, leaving the auditorium 60ft. x 35ft. with a seating capacity about 600. Round the walls up to 6ft 6in. is a handsome dado in Portland cement and above it are panelled Tuscan pilasters to the entablature, architrave enriched frieze and medallion cornice forming the main cornice to the hall. Immediately inside the cornice is a sunken panel all-round the ceiling relieved with ornamental outlet ventilators. There are twelve large windows, six on each aide, and the sashes, skirting boards, and doors throughout the building are beautifully painted in imitation of grained cedar. Two enormous gas reflectors, each for 50 lights are suspended from the ceiling and besides these, four elegant hanging chandeliers for lighting up the proscenium, and back of the stage, under which is a storeroom for seats, &c, when the hall is required for a ball. The floor is made of kauri, secretly nailed, and is beautifully finished off. At the back of the stage are two lavatories and ladies and gentlemen's dressing rooms, between which are a connecting passage for a call boy. Outside is a capital asphalted yard, and the other usual conveniences on an improved plan. There is a right-of-way asphalted on each side of the building, and a large lamp is to be placed opposite the main entrance to light up the front. Everything that forethought and ability could suggest to make the hall comfortable and popular has been done, and it now only remains for the public to avail themselves of the advantages offered them by the enterprising Company. The cost of the building and furniture, including a magnificent piano, was £2,500, and the land £300. Mr J. C. M. Cowan, of Ascot Vale, is the architect, and Messrs Parker and Pater, of South Melbourne, the contractors. The plastering was done by Mr I Nicholas, of Murray Street, Moonee Ponds, who is also entitled to great praise for his splendid workmanship. Mr Cowan has been most assiduous and particular in seeing that his instructions were carried out to his satisfaction, and the result must be exceedingly gratifying to him and to the directors. The Masonic hall is only one of the many buildings erected by Mr Cowan in this district, among the others being the well known residences of Meessrs. J. Levy, Mooneo Street; W. Murphy, Eglington street; G. Groube, Maribyrnong street; C. A. Arvier, Moonee Ponds ; and F. Paul, Mount Alexander road. It may also be mentioned that Mr Cowan generously presented the plans for the now local fire brigade tower which is acknowledged to be one of the strongest and most graceful around Melbourne, The new Masonic Hall does infinite credit to the borough, and in accommodation, design, and comfort it is not surpassed by any similar building of the kind outside the city.

Offset Printed bi-fold card with lodge meetings in Bendigo Districtgolden & corinthian, mount alexander, mount franklin - st. george, mackenzie, st. george, southern cross, zetland, heathcote, aurora, zenith, eaglehawk, st. johns, rochester, trentham, kyneton, sadhurst, corona, wedderburn, gisborne, campaspe, carisbrook, harcourt, bendigo city

A memorial rock was installed in the grounds of the army depot at Sisley Avenue in 2003 to commemorate the Charge at the Ney undertaken on 7 August 1915. When Victorian Mounted Rifles departed the depot there was uncertainty as to its future so the plaque was removed and lodged with the museum. The 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The regiment served at Gallipoli where in a courageous but ill-fated charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 it suffered horrendous casualties including Lieutenant Colonel White. Rebuilt in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Maygar VC the regiment went on the serve throughout the Middle East Campaign. Colonel Maygar died of wounds at Beersheba when the regiment was attacked by enemy aircraft while waiting to follow up the successful charge of the 4th LH Brigade on 30 October 1917. The 8th Light Horse AIF was disbanded in 1919, but soon after re-raised as the 8th (Indi) Light Horse in the Citizen Military Forces, superseding 16th (Indi) Light Horse. It had its headquarters at Benalla with sub-units throughout the Upper Murray and Northeast Victoria. In December 1941, the regiment converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 8th Reconnaissance Battalion then in July 1942 it became 8th Cavalry Regiment and served in Northern Territory. As Japanese threat to the mainland declined the regiment was disbanded. Single fold program for memorial service 8th Light Horse Memorial, Wangaratta, 2 August 2003military, light horse, nek, wangaratta, memorial

The Independant order of Rechabites "Hope of Australia Tent No. 109" was formed in Harcourt in July 1869 and celebrated its centenary in 1969. With a strong -minded core of Methodists and members of the Church of Christ the group provided moral leadership and social framework to a wide area for a long time. At first they met in a small hall but, the lodge having inflamed partisan passions, the hall was deliberately burnt down in 1877. Undeterred the Lodge rebuilt the hall in the same year and thus provided the only district public hall. The Hall was sold by the lodge in 1937.; The Independent order of Rechabites, a temperance and social organsiation, was particularly strong in the Harcourt, Barkers Creek district, due to the high proportion of Methodists in the population, a demographic phenomenon resulting from the courage, prevalence and influence of Wesleyan lay preachers on the Mount Alexander Goldfields. Ribbon/collar sashes,white, with red longitudinal stripe (Chief Ruler & Deputy Ruler only) and red border, red machine embroidery, angle stitched at lower front to form a fitted collar."CHIEF RULER"," DEPUTY RULER", "TREASURER", "GUARDIAN", "LEVITE" plus IOR triangle - "Truth, Fortitude, Justice" plus three heraldic shields with background foliage, Plus "Independant Order of Rechabites" plus a further decorative sheild surmounting a swage-like motto " Peace & Plenty the reward of Temperance" and "Rechabites Salford Unity" all in red on white background