Freemason headquarters here gets $7.5 million revamp
The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street.
The 133-year-old heritage building underwent a $7.5 million refurbishment that took four years. New electrical wiring has been installed, along with a proper lighting system for the exterior facade.
With more than 500 members using the premises, a new annex with three storeys and a basement was created at the back for more space. It houses a masonic library, a third smaller masonic temple and a museum.
The headquarters also has a new restaurant on the first floor which will be open to the general public in March.
The stairway from ground floor to Main Masonic Temple on second floor. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
The seat for the "Worshipful Master", the senior officer of a Masonic Lodge, in the Main Masonic Temple. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
Exterior of Freemasons' Hall at Coleman Street. A new glass annex (right) was constructed beside the original building. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
A smaller temple in the section of the original heritage building. There will be altogether three temples, including one in the new glass annex. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
Freemasons participate in a re-dedication ceremony to mark the completion of renovation works for the Freemasons' Hall at Coleman Street. The 133-year-old heritage building is the headquaters of the Freemasons in the district. The facelift is the most major one since World War 2 and costs $7.5 million, raised by donations from the 500 Freemasons here in Singapore. Renovation work, which started in 2009, was done for the main building and a new modern glass annex has been added. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING
A store room where flags bearing the coat of arms of the lodges are kept. The Freemasons are a notoriously secretive group, but in a sign that they are slowly opening up, the Singapore headquarters opened its doors to the media earlier this week for a tour of their newly revamped headquarters at Coleman Street. --ST PHOTO: NURIA LING












