Lodges and Friendly Societies

NEWSPAPERS

Newspapers may give clues as to whether a person was a member of a lodge or friendly society; the person may be listed attending an event organised by the lodge or friendly society or there may be a funeral notice placed by the lodge or friendly society. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.

LAND RECORDS

Land records may list trustees of lodges or friendly societies. See Land Ownership Records.

REGISTRATION FILES

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - FRIENDLY SOCIETY REGISTRATION FILES 1867-1991 (VPRS 284)

These are not online. List of trustees are included. Friendly Society Registration Files not listed on Public Record Office Victoria website may be found inside other Friendly Society Registration Files in the same area where they have been taken over or amalgamated.

RECORDS

ANCESTRY - ENGLAND, UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND (UGLE) FREEMASON MEMBERSHIP REGISTERS 1751-1921

This collection contains membership registers listing men who belonged to the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). Freemasonry is a fraternal order that traces its roots back to the Middle Ages, and a Masonic Grand Lodge has existed in England since 1717. A rival Grand Lodge was established in London in 1751, and the two came together to form the UGLE in 1813.

The UGLE is the governing body for Freemasonry in England, Wales and certain countries overseas. Each Masonic lodge has been obliged since 1768 to return to the Grand Lodge, on an annual basis, a list of its members. These returns are used to compile the membership registers, described as Contribution Books, which are reproduced in this collection. While the majority of the registers in this collection are from lodges in England, registers are also available from lodges in Wales, Northern Ireland, and several countries overseas such as Canada, Australia, India and South Africa.

The membership registers are searchable and may be browsed.

https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/60620/

STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - DARRAGH INDEX TO MELBOURNE GERMAN SICK AND RELIEF SOCIETY RECORDS (DEUTSCHER KRANKENVEREIN) 1861-1924

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/darragh-index

FAMILYSEARCH - INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS, BLACKWOOD LODGE NO. 23 MEMBERSHIP RECORDS 1874-1956

Records were in possession of Mrs. W. J. Zanon, Bacchus Marsh.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/40310?availability=Family%20History%20Library

FAMILYSEARCH - SONS OF TEMPERANCE, CORIO DIVISION MEMBERSHIP BOOKS 1863-1869

Records were in possession of the Geelong Historical Records Centre, Victoria.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/159466?availability=Family%20History%20Library

GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - CORIO: SONS OF TEMPERANCE MEMBERSHIP LISTS 1863-1869 (GRS 19)

These have been indexed into the Geelong and District Database.

http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes

FAMILYSEARCH - INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS, LOYAL PHOENIX LODGE, GEELONG 1870-1890, 1883-1895

Records were in possession of the Geelong Historical Records Centre.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/159834?availability=Family%20History%20Library

GEELONG AND DISTRICT WEBSITE - GEELONG: LOYAL PHOENIX LODGE - MEMBERSHIPS 1870-1895 (GRS 64)

These have been indexed into the Geelong and District Database.

http://zades.com.au/gandd/index.php/databases/potpourri/ppindexes

FAMILYSEARCH - SONS OF TEMPERANCE, LARA LAKE DIVISION MEMBERSHIP BOOKS 1908-1921

You Yangs Division became Lara Lake Division in 1916. Records were in possession of the Geelong Historical Records Centre.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/159521?availability=Family%20History%20Library

FAMILYSEARCH - INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES TENT MOUNT ROUSE. SICK REGISTER 1878-1944

Original records were housed at the Shire of Mount Rouse, Penshurst.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/590839?availability=Family%20History%20Library

FAMILYSEARCH - AUSTRALIAN NATIVES ASSOCIATION, PORT FAIRY. RECORD BOOK 1890-1934

Original records were housed at the Port Fairy Historical Society, Port Fairy.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/540286?availability=Family%20History%20Library

FAMILYSEARCH - MANCHESTER UNION INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS PRINCE ALBERT LODGE NO. 1, PORT FAIRY. REGISTRATION BOOK 1849-1955

Original records were housed at the Port Fairy Historical Society, Port Fairy.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/540284?availability=Family%20History%20Library