Meet the new team members of Winton Lodge! Our Installation took place on Saturday, 26th July, in Tallangatta, and it was a fantastic day and night. Wor Bro Arthur Willison was installed as Master by RT Wor Bro Barry Minster PDGM, with Wor Bro Reg Cooke assisting as Proclaiming Officer.

The celebration continued into the night at the local pub

50-year Service Jewel Presented to Wor Bro Robert Kerr

On Saturday, 27th July, Worshipful Brother Robert Kerr was proudly presented with his 50-Year Masonic Service Jewel by Right Worshipful Brother Barry Minster. Initiated on 2nd February 1973 in Lodge Five Islands, New South Wales, Wor. Bro. Kerr has demonstrated unwavering dedication, integrity, and service to the Craft over the past five decades. Surrounded by brethren, the ceremony was a heartfelt tribute to a remarkable Masonic journey and a milestone few achieve.

History of Winton Lodge No 67

The Winton Masonic Lodge was founded on the 24th of June 1890 by Joseph Benjamin Spratt and was then called the “Thomas Burnett Feltham” Lodge in compliment to the memory of a brother who was an old and much respected resident of Winton.

In September 1892, the name was changed to “Winton Lodge” and in the early 1900s, the place of meeting was at the Winton State School by permission of the Department of Public Instruction and held there until June 1902 when permission to continue the use of the building was withdrawn. The first definitive move made towards a building was in 1903 mainly due to the credit of Master W. Bro. W. Thomson and W. Bro. Julius von Berger who guaranteed a considerable sum for the building. The original building was opened in 1903 and fully completed 1904 at a total cost of two hundred and fifty pounds. The building was situated on the corner of Oondooroo and Dagworth Streets, Winton. 

Quite a number of well-known Winton identities joined the fraternity, and by 1927 the average attendance for the year was 38 per meeting with 52 brethren attending the installation. In 1929 Fergus McMaster of Qantas fame was initiated in the Winton Lodge.  

 During the last year or two before the Second World War (1934 – 1945) Lodge members such as Richard Magoffin, Harry R. Davidson, C. Brabazon, Water D. Booty, Richard Searle, all worthy citizens had joined the Lodge and in some cases left their sons to carry on traditions of Freemasonry in Winton.  

The Winton Masonic Lodge celebrated their centenary in July 1990. 

Since the year 1990, the Winton Masonic Lodge saw a decline in candidates as new members were not forthcoming. The last meeting of the Winton Masonic Lodge No. 67 was held on a Saturday, the 16th of December 2000 with the Worshipful Master at the time being Wor. Bro. Peter Stephens P. S. G. D.

Winton Lodge was re-consecrated on Saturday, 29th July 2023, at the Tanswells Hotel Ballroom in Beechworth, Victoria, under the jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Queensland. The ceremony was officiated by Grand Master, Most Wor Bro Terrance Phillip, and Wor Bro Robert Bruce Johnstone was installed as the first Master of the newly Consecrated lodge.