The Arrowtown Masonic Lodge, on Wiltshire St. Photo: FilesAs one door closes . Although Arrowtown’s masonic lodge, formed in 1878, closed last year, it’s now become a popular meeting venue for Queenstown’s Lake Lodge of Ophir. The Queenstown lodge — whose 1864 waterfront building makes it the oldest New Zealand freemasons’ lodge still in use — absorbed Arrowtown’s members when their Arrow Kilwinning Lodge, opened in 1888, closed. ‘‘It was sad to close that [Wiltshire St] lodge, but the reality is it’s still getting used as it was intended, what it was built for.’’Senior member and almoner Gary Lonsdale says they’re now using the Queenstown lodge only about four times a year, including next month’s installation meeting. ‘‘You’re constantly on your phone, you’re constantly connected, and then you go into the lodge and it’s not like that.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 31, 2026 15:03 UTC