Benalla Freemasons celebrate 150 years with grand reconsecration ceremony

“It’s a free event open to the community,” Mr Halligan said.

“The reconsecration will be done by the Most Worshipful Master, Peter Henshall, and his grand lodge team.

“They wear their full lodge regalia, which features the gold chains, carrying a sword and the whole shebang.”

The ceremony is to celebrate 150 years of the No. 64 Marangan Lodge, in Benalla.

A Freemasons group has been meeting in Benalla since 1871.

“Originally, they used to meet at the Black Swan Hotel, which was on the corner of Kent and Arundel Sts,” Mr Halligan said.

Subsequently, a lodge was built on the corner of Benalla and Walker Sts.

“The first lodge temple is what is now our supper rooms,” Mr Halligan said.

“Then, in 1932 the new temple was built beside it.”

Over the years, Marangan Lodge has seen its fair share of members.

“Dr Nicholson, who treated Ned Kelly at Glenrowan, was also a worshipful master in Benalla,” Mr Halligan said.

“And Superintendent Frederick Standish, who was in charge of the siege at Glenrowan, he was a member.

“He became Grand Master of Victoria, but was not a very well-liked man.”

While Marangan Lodge has some famous, or perhaps infamous, past members, it has had hundreds of local people on its books over the years.

And it has minutes of every meeting since its first, stored in the lodge, as well as all books where guests have signed in.

Community members popping in to see the reconsecration ceremony might well see some familiar names in its library of records.

The 150-year reconsecration is free to attend and takes place on Saturday, July 26 from 3pm, with light refreshments served after the ceremony.