The visiting parties included a large delegation of Grand Lodge officers as well as many visiting Masters and brethren from throughout the Hunter and Central Coast regions.

In this most historic of years, the members of the Lodge reinstalled Worshipful Brother James Mitchell as the new Master of the Lodge, an office Jim last held in 1972.

While many locals would remember the many Masonic Balls held in the city throughout the years, few would realise that this community fundraiser held by the local Masons dates back to the Lodge’s inception in 1908.

At that time, Freemasonry as an institution was rapidly expanding throughout Australia and Lodge Cessnock was the two hundred and fifty second lodge to be issued with a charter under the auspices of the United Grand Lodge of NSW.

One of the key drivers for the early growth of Freemasonry in the region was the parallel boom in the mining sector, which had attracted a large influx of Scottish and Irish immigrants who brought many of their customs, including Freemasonry, here with them.

According to minutes of the earliest meetings, the original founding members of Lodge Cessnock included several Hotel Keepers, Miners, Storekeepers, Engineers, an Under Manager, a local Vigneron, Builder, Doctor, Chemist, Policeman, a Grocer and a number of School Teachers.

At that time, the construction of the original Lodge Temple cost a total of $500 pounds for land and building,

Throughout the years following, many interesting facts dot the annals of the recorded minutes including a short-lived attempt in 1921 to prohibit alcohol from Lodge meetings. It is generally assumed that this trend followed the American prohibition that began in the early part of 1920. However, unlike the US abolition which lasted some 13 years, Lodge Cessnock members voted to put alcohol back on the tables (with a notation permitting moderation only!), just 6 months after their self-imposed abstinence began.