Community groups invited to express interest in use of masonic hall

  • 2016-08-22
Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being called from community-based organisations for use of the heritage-listed Mordialloc Masonic Hall.

Kingston Council is keen to hear from community groups within the City, including Braeside, who are interested in working out of the circa-1925 building.

Kingston Mayor Tamsin Bearsley said despite a recent lack of support by councillors for a $400,000 works package to prepare the property for possible occupation, the move to invite Expressions of Interest is a great starting point for further discussions.

She said the Council had already spent $700,000 on refurbishment and repairs to make it waterproof and safe, adding that interest has been flagged by several community groups and the EOI process provides an opportunity to gauge the level of interest and the various ideas groups have for the use of the hall.

The hall, which has been featured in a number of local history booklet printing projects, was originally used by local Masonic Lodges until the 1990s, when they moved to Keysborough.

The property was then bought for $246,000 by Jack Foley, who owned it for 17 years before Kingston Council purchased it for $1.15m.

The Mayor said the community was consulted for ideas on the hall’s use in 2013 and the latest call for Expressions of Interest was the next step. She said the City of Kingston is looking forward to hearing from all interested groups.