Established in 1937, Epworth Freemasons (formerly the Freemasons Hospital), located at 166 Clarendon St in East Melbourne, was a practical expression of the work of Freemasonry in the Victorian community.
It is a non-government, not-for-profit, charitable institution providing a range of inpatient and ambulatory care services including: Women's and related health services including maternity, women's health and breast clinics, breast and gynaecological surgery and IVF.
The original five-level reinforced concrete building was designed by architects, Stephenson and Meldrum (later Stephenson and Turner), in a Functionalist Modern style with its bold horizontal balconies, contrasting vertical service tower and minimal decoration.
The white rendered exterior was trimmed with blue tiles and horizontal tubular steel balustrades.
Between 1956 and 1958 the hospital was substantially extended by architects, Meldrum and Noad, to a design sympathetic to the original by continuing the sweeping balconies.