DISTRICT PLAN – LISTED HERITAGE PLACE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT – STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE HERITAGE ITEM NUMBER 703 MASONIC HALL - PHOENIX LODGE AND SETTING – 160 RUE JOLIE, AKAROA

PHOTOGRAPH : SIMON DAISLEY, 2013

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE Historical and social values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular person, group, organisation, institution, event, phase or activity; the continuity and/or change of a phase or activity; social, historical, traditional, economic, political or other patterns.

The Masonic Hall in Rue Jolie which was opened in 1877 as Lodge No. 1666 is of high historical and social significance. Although the history of in Banks Peninsula dates back to the late 1830s the Masonic order who built their lodge in Rue Jolie had been established in 1876. Meetings were held at the Anglican Vicarage and the Bruce Hotel until the lodge was completed. The Worshipful Master, Anglican Reverend W. H. Canon instigated the construction of the lodge before ill health saw him relocate to Australia in 1877. He was the vicar of St Peter’s Church, Akaroa from 1870 -77. Lodge activity then went into decline. In 1881 the lodge was reactivated when it was re-consecrated as Lodge No. 1959 and new officers installed. In 1890 it was brought under the New Zealand Jurisdiction, renamed Lodge No. 43 and titled The Phoenix Lodge. In 1909 a refectory or supper room was built adjoining the hall at the rear. In 1963 a lean-to was added to the northern side of the building. The building continues to function as a to this

day and is one of only a very few surviving 19th century purpose built Masonic Lodges that continue in their original use.

CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE Cultural and spiritual values that demonstrate or are associated with the distinctive characteristics of a way of life, philosophy, tradition, religion, or other belief, including: the symbolic or commemorative value of the place; significance to Tangata Whenua; and/or associations with an identifiable group and esteemed by this group for its cultural values.

The lodge has high cultural significance due to its association with Freemasonry in Akaroa. The fraternal organisation of Freemasonry was brought to New Zealand from England and Europe with the practice continuing to the present day.

ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE Architectural and aesthetic values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular style, period or designer, design values, form, scale, colour, texture and material of the place.

The lodge has architectural and aesthetic significance as a purpose built timber Masonic Lodge dating from 1877, which continues to function as a lodge to this day. The simple single gabled hall was completed in 1877 and was enhanced with some classical elements including a triangular pediment with circular motif on the gable and a classical bracketed pediment over what would have been the orginal doorway. A stone classical building was the British or European model for Masonic lodges and these are attempts to emulate stone construction in the vernacular use of timber. In 1907 a refectory was added to the rear of the hall. In 1963 the lean-to was added to the northern side of the building. The interior has largely retained original elements and planning with the addition of internal doorways to accommodate the extensions.

TECHNOLOGICAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP SIGNIFICANCE Technological and craftsmanship values that demonstrate or are associated with: the nature and use of materials, finishes and/or technological or constructional methods which were innovative, or of notable quality for the period.

The Lodge has technological and craftsmanship significance as a purpose built 19th century Masonic Lodge which has retained many of its original fittings, features and details all of which were produced to fulfil a Masonic role. Timber was in plentiful supply from local mills in Banks Peninsula and as such timber construction was well developed in Akaroa in the mid- late 19th century. Thus the Lodge has the potential to provide evidence of the local construction techniques and practices in timber.

CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE Contextual values that demonstrate or are associated with: a relationship to the environment (constructed and natural), a landscape, setting, group, precinct or streetscape; a degree of consistency in terms of type, scale, form, materials, texture, colour, style and/or detail; recognised landmarks and landscape which are recognised and contribute to the unique identity of the environment.

The lodge has contextual significance as it is part of a group of listed heritage buildings in the upper section of Rue Jolie. The majority of the listed buildings are 19th century colonial dwellings that have retained their colonial style, scale and form. Although not a domestic

building the lodge is consistent in terms of materials, gabled form and scale to the 19 th century domestic buildings that are in close proximity to the building. The classical façade of the Masonic Hall is highly visible from the street giving it landmark value in the area.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE Archaeological or scientific values that demonstrate or are associated with: the potential to provide information through physical or scientific evidence an understanding about social historical, cultural, spiritual, technological or other values of past events, activities, structures or people.

The dwelling and its setting are of archaeological significance because they have the potential to provide archaeological evidence relating to past building construction methods and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.

ASSESSMENT STATEMENT

The lodge is of high overall heritage significance to Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. It has high degree of historical and social significance as it was built in 1876/77 as a Masonic Lodge and has continued to operate as such up to the present day, a now rare example of this. The lodge has high cultural significance due to its association with Freemasonry in Akaroa. It has architectural and aesthetic significance as a simple classical colonial timber version of the stone classical European models for such lodges. The Lodge has technological and craftsmanship significance as a purpose built 19th century Masonic Lodge which has retained many of its original fittings, features and details all of which were produced to fulfil a Masonic role. The lodge has a high degree of contextual significance due to its visibility from the roadway and the degree to which it conforms to the scale, style, form and materials of the surrounding group of listed heritage buildings in which the lodge is located. As a pre-1900 dwelling and site it has the potential to provide archaeological evidence of human activity.

REFERENCES: Simon Daisley, Background Information Listed Heritage Place, 160 Rue Jolie, 2013.

REPORT DATED: 14.3.2015

PLEASE NOTE THIS ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF WRITING. DUE TO THE ONGOING NATURE OF HERITAGE RESEARCH, FUTURE REASSESSMENT OF THIS HERITAGE ITEM MAY BE NECESSARY TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF ITS HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE.

PLEASE USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CCC HERITAGE FILES.