First meeting at the home of Aaron Benny 3rd May 1924, 4 more meetings were held before agreement to form a lodge. The name Witton was chosen because a block of land on Witton Bluff had been promised to the lodge by Aaron Benny. (Witton Bluff named after the ss David Witton wrecked in 1839 at that spot.)GL was petitioned by Leopold Lewis Lodge (#74 SAC) and a Warrant granted. Consecration took place at McLaren Flat memorial hall on 21st Nov 1924 in the presence of over 200 masons.  An occasional lodge was held to receive the GL team. GM was unable to attend and Deputy GM (H K Wendt) officiated. 1st Master- Aaron Benny, SW- L Dingle, JW- F Wilson, Secty- W Bailey.

 

Bro HT Kelley made the furniture, painted blue and white and it was able to be folded up for storage at the hall. It was later presented to Willunga Lodge on its formation (Witton’s Daughter lodge) A decorated cloth was used as the tessellated pavement. A curtain separated the lodge room from the festive board area in the hall.

 

At the first meeting following consecration, held on 14th Jan 1925 the lodge agreed to become a Hallstone Jewel lodge, admitted 2 joining members and proposed the first initiate (G Connor). Members traveled from Willunga, Port Naorlunga and other townships using horse and spring carts, bicycles and some cars. Their return home at night must have been thrilling especially in bad weather, relying on only kerosene lamps or candle lights and the good sense of the horse.

 

On June 17th 1926 it was resolved to erect a two storey building at a cost not to exceed ₤2 000. Sadly this had to be abandoned. A misunderstanding caused the land at Witton Bluff to be sold by Aaron Benny. A building committee was formed and another block of land purchased at Witton Bluff with subscriptions raised by the brethren. Plans were then drawn up to erect a building, not to exceed ₤1 000 including “all furniture and details”. During this period dissatisfaction was being expressed about the progress of the lodge as not one initiate lived in the McLaren Vale area. A suggestion was made that the lodge move to the Port Noarlunga area and it created considerable controversy.

 

The WM ruled that a postal ballot would be conducted to determine the question. On 9th March 1932 the ballot closed with 19 in favour and 25 against. Five years later the question arose again. It was decided to enquire at the Port Noarlunga Institute hall as well as McLaren  Vale for a 3-year rental. In September and October ballots were again held. The first was a secret ballot resulting in a 17 to 8 vote in favour of the move. Despite that a second ballot was held on the 12th October and the majority reduced to 1! Nevertheless the die was cast and the lodge was to move to Port Noarlunga.

 

On 20th March 1938 a sub committee met at the Port Noarlunga Institute with the Grand secretary (R O Fox) and it was agreed that with certain modifications it would be suitable for lodge use. The first meeting held there was on May 11th 1938. The move only served to emphasise the need for our own building. And a building fund was opened with the proceeds of a Grand Ball, held at the institute.

 

The 25th anniversary of the lodge was celebrated on the 21st November 1949 when the GM Mr. Justice Ligertwood with a full GL retinue installed Bro C L Furler into the chair. In 1954 discussion again centred on our own building, a proposal for an RSL type hall in cooperation with a community group did not proceed.

 

In 1955 the Port Noarlunga Institute remodeled the building and it became more acceptable for lodge use and in April 1956 the 1st meeting took place in the remodeled hall with the GM Sir Geoffrey Reed, GL officers and 225 masons in attendance. This meeting was the first meeting of the Southern Group Lodges.

 

Steps towards a Witton Lodge owned property.

 

In May 1956 Witton applied to GL for a loan to construct our own lodge building. To our great disappointment this was refused!

In December that year the lodge approached the Superannuation fund of SA for a loan, this too was unsuccessful.

 

In 1957 an emergency meeting was held and 35 members attended and after considerable debate it was resolved that ;-

1. we proceed with building our own Temple

2, the block of land owned by the lodge be sold (bought for ₤200and worth ₤1000).

 

The matter crystallized when W Bro W M Hunt advised that he was considering presenting the lodge with a block of land!

He followed this up with a firm offer of a block of land being gifted to the lodge. This block faced the then “Bella Vista Estate” From then on the building project gained momentum. The building fund subscription was doubled and plans developed by Bro R Johns and W Bro E Dallwitz were adopted. A loan application to the Savings bank of SA for ₤10 000 was submitted and was modified by the bank to ₤7 000.

 

It was necessary for the lodge to become an incorporated body to comply with the lands act in order transfer the block of land from W Bro Hunt to the lodge. The brethren donated varying sums of money and numerous other gifts necessary for the building of the Temple and in the ceremonies. Tenders were called for the building construction and that of Bro G Norman was accepted.

 

Witton Lodge achieves its own property.

After 35 years, that dream of 1926 was taking shape. The foundation stone was laid by the lodge Foundation Inner Guard, W Bro E E Hunt on October 4th 1958. It was a further10 months, before the building was completed on 31st August 1959. The important day arrived and the dedication ceremony was performed by the Past Deputy GM, RW Bro G S Mc Donald. Ron Bowden had made all the officers pedestals, brethren donated amounts which “sponsored” chairs, brethren held a working bee and made all the surrounding seating whilst Fred Hunt donated the organ and was organist for 20 yrs. Earlier in the year, on March 5th, the wives of 12 brethren formed the Witton lodge ladies auxiliary and through their hard work running social events, stalls, fund raisers they enabled the lodge to pay off its second mortgage which became necessary to furnish the interior of the building.  This auxiliary continued for many years, finally dissolving in 2003-4 and depositing over $14 000 into lodge funds.

 

On May 4th 1962 Willunga lodge was proposed as our daughter lodge but was not accepted by GL until 1964. It was consecrated on October 30th 1964 and Witton donated all of its original furniture and tracing boards to the new lodge. February 1962 saw the formation of the Witton social club, of which every brother was a member but which oversaw the social aspects of lodge activities.

 

The lodge celebrated its 50th year in 1974 and a commemorative booklet was produced covering the history up to that date (from which much of this presentation has been extracted) 1987 saw the purchase of the car park land which had been unofficially used up to then and was simply a weed and grass filled paddock. In 1999 a deal was struck with the Highways dept which saw us assume the use of a little more land and through the efforts of WB Stoltz saw the car park graded , laid out and surfaced with aggregate. In addition other minor works were completed at no cost.

 

At the closure of Willunga lodge, their brethren donated funds to air condition the lodge room and also to replace the original carpet which had become badly worn in several places. Investigations into how we might access GL funding to upgrade the building were undertaken in 2004.The kitchen was refurbished with lodge funds in 2006.

 

The lodge voted to establish the Witton Masonic Centre management Committee in 2007.  Application was made for a grant from the Asset Fund for upgrading the entrances and other work necessary to comply with building requirements and Occupational, Health, and Safety Regulations.  A grant was received making that work possible. Work will continue to ensure that the property can continue to meet safety and comfort requirements now and into the future. Our motto (Yes we have one) is “Posteris Aedifucamus”—We build for posterity.

 

The Witton lodge building celebrates its 50th year on Monday August 31st 2009.

SMIB

 

Witton Freemasons Centre.

The property is now to be known as the ‘Witton Freemasons Centre’ which is the home of the Witton Lodge No 124, and meeting home of Lodge of Endeavour No 235, Witton Royal Arch Chapter No 43, Witton Mark Lodge No 55,

 

The management committee has gained a number of non Masonic tenants as well as letting the property for other functions.