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The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory is the main governing body of Freemasonry within the Australian state of New South Wales that also wholly encloses the Australian Capital Territory containing the national capital city, Canberra. It is not the oldest Grand Lodge in Australia; that distinction is held by the Grand Lodge of South Australia, formed in 1884. It originated from the union in 1888 of the earlier 1845 provincial Grand Lodge under the United Grand Lodge of England and other provincial Grand Lodges.
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Organisation
The Grand Lodge is led by an elected Grand Master, assisted by a Deputy Grand Master and an Assistant Grand Master, with a Grand Team.
The Grand Lodge is further organised into 13 Regions, each led by a Regional Grand Counsellor (RGC), which are in turn organised into various Districts, led by a District Grand Inspector of Workings (DGIW), comprising groups of lodges based on geography. Districts are numbered using the Region number suffixed by a further number, hence District 103 is the 3rd district of Region 10. The geographically smallest is Region 12 Sydney Central and the largest is Region 13 Far West. There are no Region or District offices. Lodges meet in various buildings, ranging from individual lodge buildings to major city or urban centres, such as in Canberra.
The Grand Secretary heads the administration of the Grand Lodge from the headquarters at 279 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, on the north-west side of the corner with Goulburn Street.
History
Freemasonry came to New South Wales with the regiments of the British Army soon after the First Fleet in 1788.
A Military Lodge sitting under Warrant No.1780, by then having admitted a number of civilians to membership, became Sydney No.l, formed with 39 brethren on 13 April 1845, the first Wor. Master Bro. Richard McGuffin and his Officers, being installed by Bro. Alexander. No.l, operated in Sydney until its closure in 1968.
The first Grand Lodge was opened in Sydney in 1845, Bro. Robert Barr being the first Grand Master, and Bro. Andrew Alexander, the Deputy Grand Master. Bro. Alexander was the Grand Master the following year. The institution grew and prospered; No.2 Lodge was opened in 1845, No.3, No.4, and No.5 (in Kiama on the New South Wales South Coast) in 1846, No.6 and No.8 in 1847, No.7 in 1850.
The Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland were also warranting lodges in New South Wales, and creating their own provincial Grand Lodges.
On 16 August 1888, after considerable consultation, the Masters and Wardens of the one hundred and eighty-three 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. The first Grand Master was Lord Carrington, Governor of New South Wales.
Notable Grand Masters
Notable Grand Masters include:
Charities
The Grand Lodge's official charities are: