Pipe Organs in WA
 
 
 
 
 

Masonic Temple, Perth
The pipe organs of Western Australia



Perth Masonic Temple
Photo: J R Elms

Perth Masonic Temple

Perth Masonic Lodge

Perth Masonic Lodge

Perth Masonic Lodge


Property
Name of institution   Masonic Temple
Type of institution0   Lodge
Street Address   St. George's Terrace
City   Perth
State   Western Australia
Postcode   6000
Country   Australia
Name of building   Masonic Temple
Name of room  
Dates of the building   1867
Register of Heritage Places  
Heritage Place number  
Architect   Richard Roach Jewell
Builder  

Special architectural features and fittings   The building known as the Old Masonic Lodge was a two storeyed brick and sandstone structure. It was an example of the Gothic revival architectural style and featured details such as arches and towers. Around 1895, a new western wing was added.

The building was demolished in 1971.

Various Masonic symbols decorated the front façade including the five-pointed star and a square and compass united.

The Latin inscription above the entrance is: AUDI VIDE TACE (Hear, See, Be Silent)

Other location information  

Name of contact  
Mailing Address  
Telephone  
Email  
Other contact information  

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Previous organ(s)
Date of previous organ   None
Detail of previous organ  
Dates when key work has been undertaken  
Dates of any moves that have taken place  
Variations from original design of organ  
Information on previous organ  
Information about comparable instruments to previous organ  
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Present organ
Type of installation   Freestanding

Case description   This case must be the most intricately carved organ case in Australia. Its entire surface is literally covered and bears very close inspection. Its genereal appearance is quite Italianate with a simple central thirteen-pipe flat peaking towards the middle and flanked by four three-pipe flats, two either side. Green painted wooden pipes form the side of the case from impost level. A transom rail with finials surrounds all three sides.

Placement in room  

Builder's name   T Atterton Organ Builder, Leighton Buzzard, UK.

Opus number  

Date of completion/installation   1893

Construction materials  

Number of manuals   Two (2)

Key compasses   CC-aaa

Number of keys   58

Key material  

Pedal compass   CC-f

Number of pedals   30

Pedalboard type   Straight

Pedalboard material  

Type of chests   Slider

Type of key action   Mechanical

Type of stop action   Mechanical

Couplers   Swell Octave
Swell - Great (inscribed as Great to Swell)
Swell - Pedal (inscribed as Pedal to Swell)
Great - Pedal (inscribed as Pedal to great and duplicated on both jambs)

Tremulants   None

Accessories    Hitchdown Swell lever

Console type   Integrated drawstop

Stop label material  

Placement   Flat jambs

General design  

Playing aids  

Divisions   Great, Swell, Pedal

Wind pressures  

Stop list  
GREAT
Open Diap. 8'
Stopt Diap. 8' TC
Stopt Diap. Bass 8'
Dulciana 8' TC
Flute 4'
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SWELL
Lieb Gedeckt 8'
Gamba 8'
Voix Celeste 8'
Gemshorn 4'
Principal 2' TC
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PEDAL
Bourdon 16'
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Total number of stops   11

Total number of ranks   10

Total number of pipes  

Dates when key work has been undertaken on current organ  

Dates of any moves that have taken place to current organ   Imported from England and installed in Perth Masonic Temple in 1893.
Renovated 1906 by J E Dodd.
Installed in the residence of C. H. Gribble, Wembley, 1967.
Dismantled and removed by Paul Smith to Melbourne in 1985.
Albert Park Baptist Church, Melbourne, was to have the organ, but then declined. The organ never went into that church.
The organ was trucked to Laurie Pipe Organs workshop for storage.
Relocated to Arcadia Benedictine Monastery in August 1995.

Information on current organ   The stop label for the Principal 2' is said to be slightly different in appearance from the other labels implying it may have been changed. As it is a tenor C configuration, it may have been a 4' rank transposed.

Comparable instruments to current organ  

Assessment of organ and current status   No longer at this location

Other organs by this builder   There are no other organs by T Atterton in Western Australia.

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Document control Original entries J R Elms, OAM, Gazetteer of Western Australian Pipe Organs, 1971, 1999, 2003 and 2004.
This entry D B Duncan 16 January 2009.
Photograph of Old Masonic Temple from State Library of Western Australia, Battye Library.
Photograph of organ from Sydney Organ Music Society