Community Feedback

The Freemason’s Grand Lodge is an outstanding piece of built heritage for South Australia and has stood proud on North Terrace in the heart of the city since the early days of the State. First built in the 1920’s, this iconic heritage-listed building was once the tallest in the city, but is now showing its age and is in urgent need of expensive repairs. In addition to rising salt damp and cracking mortar, extensive concrete cancer has been found which has led to the partial collapse of external ornate architecture, forcing the closure of one side of the building for repairs.

We welcome your thoughts about the future of 254 North Terrace Adelaide, so please provide feedback below.

And if you would like to know more about Freemasons of South Australia and Northern Territory, its rich history and support back to the community, please let us know.

Our brethren are considering the future of the Grand Lodge and what part it might play within Freemasonry, and your thoughts are appreciated.

Our Mission

Our Choices

As an association we are considering a path that allows us to maintain our traditions and to continue to welcome new members and the broader the community.

The cost of maintaining the building over the next 10 years is expected to exceed $6 million. It is not appropriate to use money which has been donated to Masonic Charities and allocated for charitable works to fund any of the works needed at the Grand Lodge.

Our choices will effectively be:

To increase dues to a rate that will be unaffordable for many current members.
To sell the building and risk seeing it fall in to disrepair.
To develop the site while respecting its heritage and improving the services it provides to generate income.

The opportunity

It is essential for Freemasons SA to do all we can to preserve this iconic heritage listed building to ensure it can be enjoyed for generations to come. If the membership supports redeveloping part of the site it could provide an opportunity to create a modern built icon that can proudly stand amongst Adelaide’s changing skyscape.

The choices being considered are:

Raise or borrow funds to cover ongoing maintenance and extensive repairs, which could include raising membership fees;
Sell all or part of the building and potentially relocate to an alternative city venue.
Consider re-development of the site and create a built icon for a new age to generate ongoing income for the fraternity.