THE Freemasons witnessed an historic step in Busselton establishing Lodge Tarbolton 869, which became the first Scottish Lodge in the South West.
The new lodge was consecrated in a ceremony at the Masonic Centre on West Street, Busselton followed by the installation of the Right Worshipful Master Brian James Cattaway.
There was a strong connection between the Scottish Constitution and the Grand Lodge of WA and both were represented by strong delegations from both avenues of the craft.
Freemasonry in Scotland is older than in any other part of the British Isles and the connection with the craft of stone masonry and modern Freemasonry can be readily established in Scotland.
Masonic records include the meeting minutes of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No.1 in 1599, while Lodge Mother Kilwinning is number 0 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, reputed to be the oldest lodge in the world tracing its origins to the 12th century.
Scottish Freemasonry in WA traces its start to May 7, 1896 when the state’s first Scottish Lodge, St Andrews No 829, was granted its charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
It was at the urging a several brethren, meeting in the Bohemia Hotel in Perth early in 1895, to apply to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a charter to establish a Scottish Lodge in the colony.
The application at the time was facilitated by the District Grand Lodge of Queensland by then the only Scottish District Grand Lodge in Australia.