Our Buildings & Halls
Orange Order New Zealand has commissioned many buildings during its rich history, some of which are still standing proud to this day. Learn about the unique history of these Orange halls here.
Halls
Members quickly realised Orange Lodges needed their own premises and the building of halls commenced all over the country. In 1866 a meeting was called in Auckland to appoint a committee to select a site for a hall and to plan the building of it. Land was purchased in Wakefield Street but financing the hall was difficult as a depression had arrived. However, Bro. Farrrell loaned the required amount to make up any deficiency, he did so without charging any interest or asking for security. The hall was no sooner opened than a Baptist minister began using it for religious services, the cash received allowed the Lodges to commence almost debt free. Sadly about 1869, it was accidentally burnt down taking with it nearly all the lodges’ records which had been placed there for safe keeping. In 1870, it was back to a hotel – The Red Lion Hotel, Drake Street, where the Grand Lodge of New Zealand held its annual meeting. Prior to 1890, Lodge No. 5 in Napier purchased the Lutheran Church and converted it into an Orange Hall. Lodge No. 24 in Hastings also owned a hall prior to 1890.
The Orange Hall in Southbridge 27th July 2004.
It was the first brick Orange Hall in New Zealand.
Other lodges which owned halls prior to 1890 were in Pukekohe and Katikati. In the Middle (South) Island lodges owned halls in Malvern Hills, Kaiapoi, Courtenay, Invercargill, Cust, Ashburton where a brick hall was erected. The first brick hall in the country was built in Southbridge and was still standing after the February 2011 earthquakes. The ceremonial trowel used for the laying of the foundation stone for this hall is today held in the Orange Hall in Hornby.
The trowel used for laying of the foundation stone of the Southbridge Orange Hall on 5th November 1881.
The first Orange Hall in Worcester Street was wooden, it was demolished and replaced in 1908. In 1980 this building was demolished and a new building was constructed, this one complied with the latest earthquake standards. Although it withstood the 2011 earthquakes, it was demolished as it was in the area the government had decreed was to be part of the new green frame in the city.
The second Orange Hall in Worcester Street, shortly before its demolition in 1980. Upstairs were two meeting rooms, downstairs on the left was the caretaker’s room, the supper room was on the right and the ball room was at the rear of the building. The ballroom was one of only two in Christchurch with a sprung floor.
There was a magnificent Orange Hall in Auckland, a large brick building, it had a magnificent ball room with a sprung floor. It was well known dance venue in the city. It was also the venue for the Imperial Orange Council meeting in 1994 although the venue was almost moved from Auckland to another part of the country. That year, Auckland experienced an unprecedented drought, water was strictly rationed and the organisers feared there wouldn’t be enough water for the visitors to the city. However, it was decided to continue with the plans for Auckland to be the host area and hope for the best. As soon as the Irish arrived, so did the rain. When the locals apologised for the days and days of rain the Irish reply was, “It makes us feel at home.”
The Orange Coronation Hall in Auckland.
It was built in 1922 and was the second Orange Hall on the site.