Masonic hall is sold

Woy Woy Masonic Hall has been purchased for more than $1 million by the Schwartz Family Company (SFC), according to the United Supreme Grand Chapter (USGC) of NSW.

Grand chapter scribe Mr Ron Duckworth said the Woy Woy property had been up for sale since late last year.

"Unfortunately the up-keeping of the building was becoming difficult to maintain," Mr Duckworth said.

"The cost of maintaining the property far outweighed the income that was being generated by keeping it alive."

Mr Duckworth said the USGC is trustee to the property and sold it on behalf of the Albert Josephson Royal Arch Chapter.

The Albert Josephson Royal Arch Chapter has owned the Woy Woy Masonic Hall for more than 40 years, according to Mr Duckworth.

Although the exact price of the property sale was not disclosed, Mr Duckworth said it was around the $1 million mark.

The sixth largest hotel group in Australia, SFC, will settle contracts with USGC for the purchase of the Railway St property in July this year.

The company already controls the Hotel Ibis at World Square, Sydney, the Fawkner Centre office complex, Melbourne, and the Deep Water Plaza, Woy Woy.

"We were approached a number of times over the years for a sale amount," Mr Duckworth said.

"But we were happy with the final price since it fetched well over the valuation amount."

Schwartz Family Company director Mr Peter Grant said the company had been interested in purchasing the Masonic Hall for "a number of years".

"No firm plans have been made to what the company will do with the property," Mr Grant said.

Mr Grant would not comment on whether the SFC had plans to remove the Masonic Hall building or whether Deep Water Plaza would be expanding to the newly purchased site.

Woy Woy Masonic Hall was officially opened in 1926.

Since that time the building has been used by a number of social groups including the Royal Arch Chapter, the Order of the Eastern Star, Brisbane Water Sovereign Chapter and Central Coast Boot Scooters.

The upper level of the hall was closed in 2004 due to lack of funding for repairs.

Clare Graham, 10 April 2008 Interviewee: Ron Duckworth, United Supreme Grand Chapter