One of Liverpool’s oldest community organisations, Lodge Liverpool No. 197, will celebrate a remarkable milestone this November – 150 years of Freemasonry in Liverpool.
The Liverpool Lodge is also among the oldest Masonic lodges in New South Wales and has been meeting continuously for a century and a half.
The celebration will culminate in a formal 150th anniversary banquet on Saturday, November 8, in the Aurora Room at Club Liverpool.
The event will honour a century and a half of community service, fellowship, and charitable contribution by local Freemasons since the Liverpool Lodge’s founding in 1874.
Originally consecrated as The Cumberland Lodge under the English Constitution in 1874, the Lodge was later re-constituted as Lodge Liverpool No. 197 under the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales following the unification of Freemasonry in Australia.
Throughout its 150-year history, the Lodge has played a significant role in the civic and social life of the Liverpool district – supporting charitable causes, developing community leaders, and upholding the values of integrity, charity, and brotherhood.
Guests at the anniversary banquet will enjoy a two-course seated dinner, commemorative presentations, and a multimedia reflection on 150 years of Masonic heritage in Liverpool.
The evening will also feature formal toasts, dignitary acknowledgements, and the ceremonial cutting of a 150th anniversary cake.
Darren Jewell, senior warden and lodge historian, says the milestone offers an opportunity to reconnect with Liverpool’s heritage and the people who have shaped its civic life.
“For 150 years, the Lodge has quietly supported local causes, built lifelong friendships, and reflected the enduring values of Freemasonry,’’ he said.
“This banquet is both a celebration of that legacy and a way of thanking the community that has supported us since 1874.’’
The venue, Club Liverpool, also known as the John Edmondson VC Memorial Club, holds special significance, because Private John Edmondson VC, a distinguished former member of Lodge Liverpool No. 197, was the first Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross in the World War II.
His courage and service embody the values that will be celebrated through the evening’s program on November 8.
SNAPSHOT
WHAT 150th Anniversary of Freemasonry in Liverpool Banquet
WHERE Aurora Room, Club Liverpool – 185 George Street, Liverpool
WHEN Saturday, November 8, 2025
TIME From 6pm – formal proceedings from 6.30pm
DRESS CODE Lounge suit or equivalent formal attire
TICKETS $60 per person – includes two-course dinner
BOOKINGS https://trybooking.com/1467416