Wansbeck Street

The section on which this Hall stands was purchased for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds from John Mainland.
In 1876, tenders were called for the erection of a hall. Thomas Glass was the architect. The tender accepted was that of Brother H.B. Hook, of three hundred and forty pounds for mason's work, and carpenters work by Lambert and Moore of two hundred and fifty three pounds and ten shillings.
Past Master Brother Greenfield of Lodge of Waitaki, laid the foundation stone on 27 June 1876.
The first cost of the property and main building when it was finished, stood at just about nine hundred and twenty five pounds, but did not include the cost of the supper room which was erected some years later. Brother David Miller, who was the Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning, was instrumental in getting this adjunct to the hall built. David Miller was a contractor, and joined Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning in 1870. He occupied the Chair of King Solomon in 1883 and again in 1885.
At a meeting of Lodge of Waitaki on 9 February 1927 a committee consisting of the Worshipful Masters of the three Lodges, together with Worshipful Brothers Forrester and Crawshaw, to consider renovations and alterations to the hall. Later, Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning suggested the possibility of a new hall being built. Master Masons approved of the action of the building committee in preparing plans and specifications, and the calling of tenders was approved on 12 December 1932.
Right Worshipful Brother John Meggett Forrester was the architect, and the lowest tender for the erection of the new hall was that of Worshipful Brother Alex Wilson. The tender price was two thousand, two hundred and eighty two pounds, eight shillings and sixpence, and the work was commenced on 15 December 1932.
Worshipful Brother A. Mackay, Past Grand Steward, laid the foundation stone on 11 January 1933, and the work was completed in May 1933.
The sub-contractors were: Plasterer - Bro. C. Ashton: Electrician - Bro. Bruce Stevens: Painter - Bro. J. Colenso: Engineering; North Otago Engineering Co. - Bro. D. McPhail: Fibrous Plasterer; Wardrop's Fibrous Plasterers - Bro. Wardrop: Mason - Lachlan Macrae: Plumber - Bro. Millar: Carpenter work - Bro. Alex Wilson:

Acknowledgement of extracts from Booklet "Centennial of Lodge of Waitaki No. 11" and from the personal memoirs of Alex Wilson.
Bruce Allan 

Trust History

This building was gifted to the Trust in 2026 by the members of the Masonic Lodge.