Our History

Since 1867

A rich and proud history

For more than 155 years, Royal Freemasons has proudly delivered Residential Aged Care, In-home Support and Independent Living Units for older Victorians.

We began as a tiny charitable initiative of Melbourne’s Freemasons, on five acres of Crown Land grant land on Punt Road, Prahran, in 1867.

Today, we are one of the most respected not-for-profit organisations, supporting older people to live secure, independent and rewarding lives.

We are known for our compassionate, caring approach and a strongly held belief in the importance of community.

1867 – 17 June: Three Provincial Grand Masters – RWBro Thomas Reed (Scottish Constitution), RWBro John Thomas Smith (Irish Constitution) and RWBro Frederick Charles Standish (English Constitution) – laid the Foundation Stone at the site on Punt Road, Prahran, where 400 Freemasons were present.

The first cottages for elderly Freemasons were completed near the end of 1867.

1883 – 2 July: George Coppin forms District Grand Lodge of Victoria. Coppin elected to Homes Committee of Management.
1889 – 21 March: United Grant Lodge of Victoria formed. Sir William Clarke, Grand Master.

1903 – First Coppin Hall opened, donated by George Coppin.

1906 – George Coppin dies.

1924 – Coppin Hall rebuilt.

1934 – Admission age raised from 55 to 60 years.

1937 – Opening of the Royal Freemason’s Hospital in East Melbourne.

1939 – Building works at Punt Road halted by outbreak of World War II.

1951 – Admission age raised from 60 to 65 years.

1952 – 4 May: General Sir Dallas Brooks, Grand Master, opens Peace Memorial Block. New Coppin Hall completed and opened by Pr Grand Master R.A. Rowe.

1955 – 6 November: Leslie Wood Wing opened by Sir Dallas Brooks.

1960 – Trustees purchase two freehold blocks, 101 and 15 Punt Road, Windsor, for Masonic Court.

1964 – Masonic Court completed.

1967 – 6 and 7 March: Centenary Conference held at Royal Freemason’s Homes. 31 May: Symbolic foundation stone laying for Centennial House performed by the Hon. Mr Justice Gillard, Grand Master.

1969 – Centennial House opens. Palm Court, Murrumbeena, bought as independent units for married couples, widows and widowers.

1972 – Name change from ‘Freemasons’ Charitable Institution of Victoria,’ to Freemasons’ Homes of Victoria.
1977 – Work commences on 16 independent units at Wangaratta.

1983 – Masonic Court Geelong completed. Total of eight independent homes now open around Victoria.

1992 – 17 June: 125th anniversary celebrations.

1996 – Gregory Lodge Nursing Home, Flemington opens.

2002 – Marjorie Nunan Memorial Homes Society in Brunswick acquired.

2003 – Federal Minister for Health, Julie Bishop, launches ‘Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities – Management Strategies’ at Coppin Community Hostel where primary research was conducted.

2007 – Masonic Court Windsor sold, Redmond Park Retirement Apartments, Carlton, opens.

2011 – Coppin Centre opens.

2013 – Springtime Sydenham, Monash Village Gardens and Elizabeth Gardens acquired. Royal Freemasons is now providing care for over 1300 older Victorians.

2016 – 60 bed Footscray Aged Care and 77 independent living units of the Berwick Brae Retirement Village purchased.

2017 – Royal Freemasons celebrates 150 years of caring for older Victorians. Acquisitions include Mt Martha Valley, Mornington Peninsula Home Residential Care.