United Manawatu Lodge

United Manawatu Lodge refers both to a Freemasons' lodge founded in Palmerston North in 1877 and to its former temple at 186 Broadway Avenue, a distinctive Egyptian-themed Art Deco building. The lodge's first temple opened in 1880 on Main Street. In 1892, the organization moved to a building on Broad Street, now known as Broadway Avenue, after its original site was required for railway-yard development. That second temple eventually became unsuitable, was removed from the site, and was replaced by the building that remains at 186 Broadway Avenue. The replacement temple was designed by local architect Ernst West, who was also a Freemason, and was dedicated on 24 July 1931. Its design reflects the strong interest in Egyptian imagery and symbolism found in parts of Freemasonry, as well as the wider Art Deco fascination with ancient Egypt that followed the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. The building incorporated living quarters and a theatre at the rear. Decorative features included a painted ceiling representing day and night skies, a blue tessellated carpet imported from Scotland, and an Egyptian-themed refectory mural depicting the judgment of a soul before a group of deities including Osiris and Anubis. Hieroglyphic panels beside the entrance carry an enduring-life inscription, while the number “1721 E.C.” identifies the lodge's registration under the English Constitution. By the 1980s, maintenance costs had become burdensome for the lodge. United Manawatu Lodge sold the building and relocated to the Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge. Following the sale, several interior fittings were removed. The property subsequently accommodated an electrical business and changed ownership again. In 1995, it was converted into the Aqaba nightclub, later becoming an Aqaba restaurant after the operators shifted their focus toward food service. The building received a regional New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Colour Award in 1996 and was registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 Historic Place in 1997. The former lodge building remained associated with the Aqaba restaurant business for many years. In 2019, owners Graeme and Marie Donald placed the restaurant business on the market after approximately 25 years of ownership, and the business was sold to new owners in 2020. The lodge itself is no longer the building's operating occupant, but its name remains central to the property's heritage identity and historical interpretation.

United Manawatu Lodge was established in Palmerston North in 1877 as a lodge of the Ancient Order of Freemasons. Its first temple opened in 1880 on Main Street. The lodge later had to leave that location when the land was required for railway-yard construction, prompting a move in 1892 to a new building on Broad Street, now called Broadway Avenue. The Broad Street temple eventually deteriorated and was no longer adequate for the lodge's needs. It was moved away from the site so that a new temple could be constructed. The replacement building at 186 Broadway Avenue was designed by Ernst West, a local architect and Freemason. Dedicated on 24 July 1931, it adopted an Egyptian-themed Art Deco vocabulary. The style reflected both Masonic interest in Egyptian symbolism and the international popularity of Egyptian motifs during the Art Deco era, particularly after the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. The building was designed for more than lodge meetings. It included living quarters and a theatre at the rear. Its interior decoration included a ceiling painted as a celestial canopy with night and day imagery, a blue tessellated carpet imported from Scotland, and a refectory mural representing the Egyptian judgment of the soul. The mural included figures such as Osiris and Anubis. Large entrance pillars and hieroglyphic panels reinforced the Egyptian theme. The inscription represented on the panels expresses the idea that a person's name would continue to live and endure. The designation “1721 E.C.” above the entrance refers to the lodge's registration number and to the English Constitution under which it operated. During the 1980s, rising maintenance costs led the United Manawatu Lodge to sell the property and move to the Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge. The sale marked the end of the building's use as the lodge's temple. Some interior fittings were removed after the sale. The premises were subsequently used by an electrical business and later sold again. In 1995, the building was converted into a nightclub called Aqaba. After approximately four years, the operators redirected the business toward restaurant service, creating the Aqaba restaurant identity by which the property became known in later decades. The adaptive reuse preserved the building's public presence while changing its function from a private Masonic meeting place to a hospitality venue. The building received a regional New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Colour Award in 1996. In 1997, Heritage New Zealand registered it as a Category 2 Historic Place, recognizing its architectural and historical value. The Aqaba restaurant remained associated with the building for many years. In 2019, its owners, Graeme and Marie Donald, offered the business for sale after approximately 25 years of ownership. The business was sold in 2020. The historic property therefore has a layered identity: it originated as a Masonic temple associated with United Manawatu Lodge, later became a nightclub and restaurant, and continues to be understood primarily through its heritage architecture and changing uses.

• 2020

  Aqaba restaurant ownership changed

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The Aqaba restaurant was sold to new owners.

• 2019

  Aqaba restaurant offered for sale

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  Long-time owners Graeme and Marie Donald offered the restaurant business operating in the former lodge building for sale.

• 1997

  Heritage New Zealand registration

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The building was listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 Historic Place.

• 1996

  Received regional architecture award

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The building won an award in the regional New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Colour Awards.

• 1995

  Building converted into Aqaba nightclub

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The former temple was adapted for commercial entertainment use as the Aqaba nightclub.

• 1980

  Lodge sold the building and relocated

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1980s, maintenance costs contributed to the lodge's decision to sell the temple and move to the Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge.

• 1931

  New temple dedicated at 186 Broadway Avenue

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The Egyptian-themed Art Deco temple designed by Ernst West was dedicated on 24 July 1931.

• 1892

  Lodge moved to Broad Street

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The lodge moved to a new building on Broad Street, now Broadway Avenue, after its original site was needed for railway-yard development.

• 1880

  First lodge temple opened

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The lodge opened its first temple on Main Street in Palmerston North.

• 1877

  United Manawatu Lodge established

  [1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  The United Manawatu Lodge of the Ancient Order of Freemasons was established in Palmerston North.

A heritage property and former Masonic temple rather than a conventional consumer brand. Its significance rests on its association with Freemasonry, its Egyptian-themed Art Deco architecture, and its later adaptation for hospitality use.

• 2019

  Aqaba restaurant placed on the marketOther

  Background

  Graeme and Marie Donald had operated the restaurant business for approximately 25 years.

  Action taken

  The owners offered the Aqaba restaurant business for sale.

  Aftermath

  The business was sold to new owners in 2020.

  Source

• 1995

  Adaptive reuse as Aqaba nightclubStrategy

  Background

  After the lodge's departure and an intervening period of other use, the historic building required a new commercial function.

  Action taken

  The premises were converted into the Aqaba nightclub.

  Aftermath

  After roughly four years, the business shifted toward restaurant operations, creating the Aqaba restaurant identity associated with the building.

  Source

• 1980

  Sale of the temple and lodge relocationStrategy

  Background

  The lodge faced increasing maintenance costs associated with the 186 Broadway Avenue building.

  Action taken

  United Manawatu Lodge sold the building and moved its activities to the Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge.

  Aftermath

  The building left Masonic use, several interior fittings were removed, and the property later underwent commercial and hospitality conversions.

  Source

• 2020

  Aqaba restaurant sold to new owners[1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Aqaba restaurant business associated with the former lodge building changed ownership after being marketed for sale the previous year.

• 2019

  Aqaba restaurant business offered for sale after long ownership[1]United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Aqaba restaurant operating from the former United Manawatu Lodge building was offered for sale by owners Graeme and Marie Donald, who had reportedly operated the business for about 25 years.

1. 1United Manawatu Lodgeen.wikipedia.org