Emulation Hall: former Freemasons Masonic temple hits the market following restoration work
An Egyptian-inspired former Masonic temple adorned with scarab motifs and astrological symbols has hit the market in Canterbury with an asking price of $3 million plus. SEE THE PICTURES.
Inner East
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It’s the Canterbury landmark bringing Egyptian flair to Melbourne’s affluent inner east.
And for just over $3 million, Emulation Hall at 3 Rochester Rd, a former Masonic temple built by the Freemasons in 1927, could be yours.
Co-owner Nicole Fraser said restoring the once dilapidated building, which now serves as a functions centre, was a painstaking process that required patience, passion and dental tools.
It took two weeks for her and the building’s co-owners Sally Mill and former Split Enz band member Noel Crombie to chip the old paint off the red cedar beams, she said, and dental tools were needed to get into the hard to reach places.
“We’ve got design backgrounds so for us it was this great big design project,” Ms Fraser said.
“We wanted to bring back the beautiful features that were hidden … there was so much red cedar in that building that was covered or just painted over.”
Replacing the floors required restumping the building, and the team installed new electrics, gas and plumbing connections, she said.
She said the labour of love cost them “well in excess” of the original $1.4 million the group originally paid for the building in 2014, but they were proud of the result. Ms Fraser said she hoped the buyer would keep the hall open to the public.
“It’s a heritage listed building so we worked hand-in-hand with Heritage Victoria from the start, but they were really great to deal with,” Ms Fraser said.
“The best way for anybody to experience that building was to see the whole thing, to access all of it. If I had an idea for the new owner and the use of that building, it would be that it continue to be accessed by the public.”
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GormanKelly director Nick Breheny said the 770sq m site was certainly a novelty to have on his books.
Adorned in gold-winged scarab beetles, astrological symbols, “the eye of Horus” and other Egyptian motifs, he said the hall could continue to serve as a function centre or even a quirky home.
He said development was possible as long as the buyer consulted with Heritage Victoria, and predicted churches and schools may also show interest in the site.
“It’s really been done well,” Mr Breheny said.
“It was a massive undertaking (by the co-owners) and it’s paid off in spades.”
Expressions of interest close November 7.
