As you approach stop number 14, the Cairns Masonic Temple on Minnie Street, keep an eye to your right. You'll spot a striking white concrete building that's two storeys tall. Its most notable feature is a large circular window framed by ornate columns and intricate detailing above the entrance. The building is set off by the greenery of palm trees planted in front of it. There's a small gated fence lining the property, welcoming you in.
Now, let’s dive into the temple’s intriguing history!
The Cairns Masonic Temple, standing proud at 8 Minnie Street, was constructed between 1934 and 1935 and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 August 1998. Even though masonic activities at this temple ceased following its sale to the Catholic Church in 2017, its historical importance is impressive.
This grand, two-storey concrete masterpiece was the third building utilized as a Masonic Temple in Cairns. The community of Freemasons in Cairns dates to a gathering held in December 1885 at Hides Hotel, and the establishment of the first Masonic Lodge in Cairns, Gregory Lodge No. 50, followed in April 1886.
By the mid-1920s, six lodges convened in Cairns. Unfortunately, the cyclone of 1927 resulted in their relocation to a building near the current temple's site. In 1934, masons decided to construct a Memorial Temple as a tribute to World War I craftsmen and the peace that followed. This led to its completion in 1935, under the architectural guidance of Hill and Taylor, and the skillful hands of contractor CE Steadman, all masons themselves.
What sets this temple apart, besides its architectural grandeur, is its symbolic foundation stone laid on Armistice Day in 1934. The building functions as a memento of the union of Freemasonry and an homage to those who sacrificially served during the Great War.
During the large-scale interwar redevelopment that essentially rebuilt Cairns following severe cyclone damage in the 1920s, the temple became an iconic structure. Its dedication ceremony in October 1935 was a grand affair, attended by roughly 700 representatives of Lodges, and highlighted features like ventilated brickwork to keep cool during humid evenings, and impressive North Queensland walnut and maple joinery.
So, here stands the Cairns Masonic Temple - a historical gem with tales of resilience, dedication, and a touch of mystery
