United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

The United Grand Lodge of NSW and ACT building is located in Sydney.

Freemasonry came to New South Wales with the regiments of the British Army soon after the First Fleet in 1788.

The first Scottish lodge was established in 1844 in Melbourne, then known as the Port Phillip Settlement and still part of New South Wales.

However, there was to become a growing level of dissatisfaction with the home Grand Lodges (England, Scotland and Ireland) due to the tyranny of distance and also the amount of money being sent away from the Colony.

In the following 11 years, although there was much disharmony between the three organisations, the three constitutions continued to warrant lodges and membership grew.

On 16 August 1888, after considerable consultation, the Masters and Wardens of the one hundred and seventy-six lodges assembled, the articles of union were again adopted, and the " United Grand Lodge of New South Wales " declared to be duly constituted and established.