about us
The Horowhenua Masonic Co Incorporated was formed in May 1974 to manage the Lodge Building on behalf of two Masonic Lodges being: Lodge Horowhenua No 135 and Lodge Levin No 386. Lodge Horowhenua No 135 was constituted in July 1904 being sponsored by Lodge Otaki No 72 and Lodge Levin No 386 was constituted in May 1955.
Lodge Levin became a tenant in the Lodge building along with the Horowhenua Chapter of the Royal Arch which had been a tenant since 1925.
In 1911, the original Lodge Building was destroyed by fire with everything lost in the blaze. Lodge Horowhenua then met for a number of years in the Druid’s Hall until a new Lodge Building was built. The Lodge Building was completed and in September 1923, the Lodge met for the first time in their new premises.
This placed a heavy financial strain on the Lodge and its members and survived by tight expenditure and donations from members and others, but also assisted by the Royal Arch Chapter becoming a tenant in 1925 for the princely sum of 10 pounds for the year.
In May 1955, Lodge Levin was Constituted as the membership of Lodge Horowhenua was 155 members. While they lived rent-free for many years in the building, they wanted to have a Lodge building of their own. In 1971, discussions started between the two Lodges regarding joint ownership of the building and the following year, A Masonic Hall Company was formed. This continued for a couple of years until an agreement was finalised.
So, in 1974, an organisation was formally created which was the “Horowhenua Masonic Co Incorporated” with members of both Lodges elected as Directors to manage the building on behalf of both Lodges. In February of 2024, the name was changed to that of the “Horowhenua Masonic Centre Incorporated” so as to eliminate the confusion surrounding the use of the word Co or Company which it was not. Now incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, with a changed name and a new long-term lease from the Horowhenua Regional Council, the Society is in good shape to continue long into the future.
Members of the Society are members of the United Horowhenua Lodge No 464, other Masonic Lodges, Other Masonic Orders, and people generally of good standing.
building the new horowhenua masonic centre
In 2004 work started on the new Horowhenua Masonic Centre, being completed in 2005. See our gallery of construction photos.
old building
The original site in Bristol Street was home to the original lodge built circa 1880’s which burned down in 1911. A replacement on the same site was eventually completed in 1923 and continued to used until the site was acquired by The Warehouse Group in 2003.
The Warehouse wanted to expand to include a garden centre so after purchasing the site, the building was demolished.
Photo’s below show the events on demolition day.
