FOR more than 150 years, there were men in Loddon communities who would head out once a month with a small black case tucked under their arms.
They were members of Freemasons lodges that once met at Boort, Pyramid Hill, Wedderburn and Inglewood.
And that memory was rekindled for Breeanna Isaac of her grandfather during the Inglewood Alive! open day at the old Aurora Lodge building in Brooke Street.
While other former Masonic lodges in the Loddon have been converted to homes, the 1892 Inglewood building has been preserved as it was when when the Aurora Lodge last met a decade ago.
Breeanna and mother Wendy Wilson were among the hundreds to tour the lodge room with owner Richard Penno.
They discovered a photograph of Alan Wilson with other members of the Aurora Lodge in the 1970s. “We’ve never seen that photo before ... I can always remember him heading off to lodge,” said Breanna.
Richard has collected Masonic memorabilia of the Aurora Lodge and other lodges in the area that is displayed in the ante room.
He said the Inglewood Alive open day had attracted hundreds of people eager for a look inside the building to see the lodge room with exquisite murals.
The Inglewood lodge had been part of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria that describes itself as “an organisation of good men, supporting each other, their families and the community. For over 170 years, we have enabled personal development, created lasting friendships and actively supported the communities in which we live.”
Richard has also preserved the Masonic symbols of the square and compasses on the building that has faced Brooke Street for 130 years.