Fire ravages Masonic hall
The Nelson Masonic Hall has been significantly damaged by fire, destroying irreplaceable memorabilia and records.
A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said the alarm was raised at 9.50pm on Monday, with reports that the hall on Nile St was well ablaze. No-one was injured, and the fire did not threaten other buildings.
Six fire engines were at the scene, with crews from Nelson, Stoke and Richmond fighting the blaze.
Yesterday morning, the building’s charred interior revealing the extent of the damage to the foyer and meeting rooms, with a number of books and items thought to have been lost.
As well as several local Masonic lodges, the Nile St hall is used by community groups, including the Nelson Historical Society and the Kahurangi Irish Dancing Group.
Freemasons who formerly used the 130-year-old Masonic Temple on Collingwood St, which was recently sold, relocated to the Nile St lodge last month.
Southern Star Lodge secretary Tony Hunter said some equipment and items belonging to the lodge had been affected by the fire. While the next meeting would be cancelled, efforts were already under way to secure an alternative venue for future lodge events.
Hunter is also president of the Nelson Historical Society, which has held its monthly meetings at the hall since 2001. The society had some sound and audio equipment stored at the hall, which was likely to have been lost.
While the society’s November meeting, scheduled for next week, will be postponed, Hunter said he was confident of having a new location available within the coming weeks.
He anticipated that the lodge would eventually return to the building – along with other users – in ‘‘the next four to six months’’, once it had been repaired.
Nelson Marlborough District Grand Master Ian McLean said the Masonic community was still recovering from the shock of the fire. He was waiting for results from FENZ assessors before knowing whether the hall could be rebuilt or if a new one was required.
He said there had been numerous offers of support and alternative meeting rooms, including from those who had received financial help from Freemasons.
McLean expressed sympathy for all those who had lost possessions or meeting space as a result of the fire.
The building is believed to have been built in 1992.