Masonic Shift Sees City Lose Lodge

Newcastle Herald

Saturday May 31, 2008

By JACQUI JONES

NEWCASTLE Masonic Centre, which adjoins the now closed Showcase City Cinemas, may also soon have to shut its doors.

Owner of both properties, developer General Property Trust (GPT), closed Showcase early this month after an inspection found the building did not comply with fire safety regulations.

Lodge City of Newcastle secretary John Grainger said yesterday his group had notice it might have to leave King Street's Masonic Centre because of similar safety concerns as at the cinema.

"We sort of half expected it and that's what happened," he said.

"We already had plans to move out to New Lambton.

"It's been in the pipeline for some time. It just means we're going now rather than later."

The lodge sold the building to GPT last year and was due to move out at year's end. That could be brought forward to within two months if GPT's continuing investigations deem it necessary.

A GPT spokesman said yesterday the company flagged with the lodge a possible early move but was waiting for further advice before making such orders.

GPT bought the Masonic Centre, Showcase and surrounding buildings as part of its proposed redevelopment of the Newcastle CBD.

The spokesman said development plans were progressing well. GPT was working with Newcastle City Council officers and conducting necessary studies.