History

In 1950, 27 members of the Lord Carrington lodge #111 Victorian constitution met to discuss forming a new lodge which would bear the name Mount Scopus Lodge, relating to the school, Mount Scopus College, which was (and still is) an Alma Mater to some of the members.

Approved by Grand Lodge of Victoria, the original Lodge, which was called Mount Scopus Lodge No 689, was formed and Consecrated on October 3rd 1950.

The Master-Elect, WBro Maurice Benn was duly installed as Foundation Master by the then Deputy Grand Master RWBro Bailey and a team of Grand Officers, with 27 Foundation Members and numerous visitors present.

Mount Scopus Lodge No 689 Victorian Constitution was originally in the No 5 group which embraced Masonic Temples in an area from Collingwood to Whittlesea. This group was reduced in size to the Lodges which met at Fitzroy, Collingwood, and Clifton Hill.

Mount Scopus Lodge was Consecrated during a boom era for Freemasonry, with many new lodges being formed each year and the number of new members increasing dramatically. This was evident at Mount Scopus Lodge in the early days when the number of propositions for initiation was so large that numerous emergency meetings were the order of the day. A triple raising for 3 brothers was also performed in 1951. In the first 25 years, from 1950 to 1975, the lodge had grown to 235 members, including the 27 foundation members, 172 initiates, and 36 affiliated members.

In November 1953, the lodge sanctioned the formation of a social committee. Over the years this committee has been instrumental in raising considerable funds for various charities.

In November 1954 a motion was carried to form the Mount Scopus Lodge of Instruction which has, to this day, been of great benefit to the various officers including the future Masters of the lodge.

During 1966 it was rumoured that the closure of the Fitzroy temple was imminent. The Lodge subsequently moved to the Crimea Street Temple in St Kilda. The inaugural meeting took place on Tuesday December the 6th 1966. Crimea Street Temple was unique in that it was formerly a Church. The stay there was only temporary as the premises was subsequently sold. The Lodge eventually moved to the Gardenvale Masonic Centre where it remains to this day.

© 2025 Mount Scopus and Collegians Lodge 689