05/08/2026
Some one recently asked how long the Freemasons were in Ararat.
The short answer is that the Freemasons are still in Ararat and our history dates back to the very beginnings of Ararat.
We know that Freemasons met informally on the Ararat goldfield in late 1856. Those early Freemasons distributed hand written notices of a meeting and pinned notices to trees.
At least one informal meeting was held between late 1856 and Tuesday, October 6th 1857.
On that date a meeting was held in Mr. Neill's Masonic Hotel, Camp Street at 8pm.
The meeting was attended by 17 Freemasons from five different constitutions. It's believed that Irish, English, Scottish, Canadian and Californian members attended.
Further meetings were held between November 1857 when formal application was sought to begin a lodge.
On Friday January 14th 1859 the local press reported that a meeting had been had been held at Mr. Berwin's Freemasons Hotel to actually form a lodge.
On May 3rd 1859 the Ararat Advertiser contained notice of a formal meeting in the Lodge Room of Mr. Sadler's Bull and Mouth Hotel Ararat on Wednesday 7th of May at 7pm.
So began the Lodge of Ophir No 27 and the work of Freemasons in the Ararat community.
[The gold fields of Australia, Mount Ararat] [picture]
Date : 8/5/26, 5:02 PM
https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-140404731
