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Darwin Freemason Hall is owned and managed by Darwin Masonic Precinct Incorporated, (DMPI). It is a not-for-profit association registered in the Northern Territory under the NT Associations Act. It is managed by a volunteer management committee, the member of which are nominated and elected by members of the various lodges who meet at the hall.
DMPI is also registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission, ACNC, as a not-for-profit association. An annual report is provided to ACNC each year, which can be viewed on their website at: Darwin Masonic Precinct Incorporated | ACNC. That website displays public information about the DMPI Committee and the financial reports since 2013.
Establishment History
The Darwin Masonic Hall Trust, a forerunner of DMPI, was incorporated on 1st June, 1962 for the purpose of building, equipping and administering a Masonic Temple which would be used as a meeting place by the three Masonic Lodges of Darwin.
An excerpt from a report soon after the completion of the building says:
"The building was completed shortly after the formation of the organisation and the management committee now administers a building with a value (including contents) of approximately $60,000. Rental income from the building yields approx $2,000 pa and a further $2,700 is derived from the sale of refreshments. The Masonic Lodges of Darwin hold monthly meetings in the building. "
Composition and Structure of the DMPI Management Committee.
The DMPI Management Committee has eleven members, all Freemasons, using a structure designed to represent the broadest possible range of the members of its constituent lodges.
The Chair and Deputy Chair are elected each year, with every member of a constituent lodge free to stand for election. They are elected for one year but are free to stand for re-election.
Two ordinary Management Committee Members are appointed by each of the three constituent Craft Lodges, nominally for a three-year term, unless they resign before that. They may also be reappointed.
A constituent lodge is one which uses the hall on a regular basis and shares responsibility for the operation and upkeep of the hall.
Two more ordinary Management Committee Members are elected from any of the constituent lodges. They are elected, however, for three years, similarly to the appointed Members, unless they resign before that. They may also be re-elected.
The eleventh member of the DMPI Management Committee, the Top End District Grand Superintendent, TEDGS, or such other identifiable person representing the Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of South Australia and Northern Territory, is an ex officio member of the Committee, with full voting rights.
Elections are held at the Annual General Meeting, where every member has an opportunity to cast their vote, in person, via video conference link, which they can access via computer, tablet or mobile phone, or via a Direct Vote Form, delivered beforehand via email or post.
Ordinary members may also serve in various offices of the committee, including Secretary, Treasurer, Public Officer, Hall Letting Officer, Precinct Maintenance Officer, Precinct Works Project Officer, Precinct Project Manager, Public Health Safety Supervisor, or Librarian.
The Chair and Deputy Chair may not also serve as Secretary, Treasurer or Public Officer but may serve in any of the other offices. The TEDGS does not assume any other office.
The DMPI Management Committee members during 2022-2023 financial year were:
Name Status Office Period
Tollner D Elected Chairman to 11/08/2022
Worrell JA Elected Deputy Chairman to 31/10/2022
Hallen T Elected Chairman from 12/11/2022)
Fagan G Elected Deputy Chairman from 12/11/2022
Hancock D Elected Ordinary Member from 12/11/2022
Green A Elected Ordinary Member from 12/11/2022
Crawshaw I Port Darwin Lodge Appointee Ordinary Member to 29/05/2023
Whyte J Port Darwin Lodge Appointee Public Officer full period
Suffolk W Port Darwin Lodge Appointee Ordinary Member from 29/5/2023
Mc Donald I Darwin Lodge of Remembrance Appointee Ordinary Member full period
McDonald M Darwin Lodge of Remembrance Appointee Maintenance Officer to 26/06/2023
Jarvis M Lodge Foelsche Appointee Ordinary Member to 17/08/2022
Esparon A Lodge Foelsche Appointee Ordinary Member from 17/08/2022
Stafford DJ Lodge Foelsche Appointee Secretary/Treasurer full period
Morris S Grand Lodge SA&NT Appointee TEDGS to 17/04/2023
Truan G Grand Lodge SA&NT Appointee TEDGS from 17/04/2023
Hall and Precinct Refurbishment Projects
DMPI, with the aid of donations and NT Government grants, has conducted a program of refurbishment over the last five or six years, which will continue for several more years to come.
An engineering and certification survey in 2018 showed the in spite of a number of signs of deterioration of the building inside and out, the structure was sound and worthy of refurbishment.
In 2020, the roof was replaced, with the majority of the cost covered by our own funds, but with the help of $15,000 NT Minor Community Benefit Fund Grant.
The photos left and right show the replacement in progress, while below is from the EWP when nearing completion
In 2021 the exterior was painted and sealed entirely with the aid of a n NT Government Immediate Work Grant.
Painting Freemason Hall 2021
Top left shows repairs to the concrete spalling at the front of the building.
Above an undercoat has been applied to the western side with crack repairs apparent in the lower part of the top floor.
The partial undercoat of the front of the building shows up the old colour, as yet unpainted . Initially the pressure clean of the old paint brought forth questions of the need to repaint it.
Photos left and right show some of the volunteers at work refurbishing the lodge room on the first floor. Volunteers, Dave Tollner, Ian McDonald and Daniel Hancock are visible to the
Starting mid 2021, but particularly over the 2021/22 holiday period, a small, dedicated and energetic group of volunteers completely refurbished the lodge room and anterooms on the first floor of the building.
A successful bid for an NTG Major Community Benefit Fund grant resulted in a significant, much needed, refurbishment of the building electrical and security services as well as the ground floor hall, and toilet areas.
Further work is necessary to prevent water ingress into the building foundations, drain and grade the carpark and provide better facilities for all users, but particularly for less able hall users.
Darwin Masonic Precinct Incorporate Management Committee members are dedicated to implement these improvements, while managing and maintaining the hall for the benefit of all users.
Freemason Hall Repairs and Maintenance
If you are using the hall and find any part of the hall or the equipment provided with it to be inoperable or defective in any way, please advise the Precinct Maintenance Officer via the link below.
Please include as many details as possible of the defective item and of the problem experienced. Include your name and contact details so the Precinct Maintenance Officer can obtain further details or advise you when the problem is resolved.
Darwin Masonic Precinct Incorporated is a Not-For-Profit Association registered under the Northern Territory Associations Act and reporting annually to NCAC. It is governed by a Constitution and a set of Regulations which may be viewed by following the link below:
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