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Former Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF)

Location

42 COLLINS STREET DIAMOND CREEK, NILLUMBIK SHIRE

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The former Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge located at 42 Diamond Creek Road, Diamond Creek. The original form, materials and detailing of the meeting room and hall building contribute to the significance of the place.
How is it significant?
The former Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge located at 42 Diamond Creek Road, Diamond Creek is of local historic, rarity and aesthetic significance to the Shire of Nillumbik.
Why is it significant?
The former Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge is of historical significance as an example of a Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows meeting place. The Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF), had its origins in Manchester, England. It was established in Melbourne in 1840 when Augustus Greeves, a member of the MUIOOF in England, migrated to Australia. By the late nineteenth century, MUIOOF had an extensive network of lodges in metropolitan and country Victoria. The Diamond Creek Lodge held its first meeting in 1870 with 15 foundation members. The small block on which the building sits, was purchased in 1906 by Richard Wadeson, Andrew Burgess Herbert and Patrick John Sheahan, all orchardists of Diamond Creek, for the purpose of establishing a meeting room for the Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows. At least from 1908, the building on the site was used for meetings and lectures and operated as such until 1949. (Criterion A) The building is the only surviving Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows known to exist in the Nillumbik Shire. (Criterion B) The former Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge is of aesthetic significance as the former Loyal Diamond Creek Lodge is a substantially intact picturesque Edwardian weatherboard building retaining its original form of two intersecting gable wings and original fine timberwork details such as the timber framed double hung windows, gable end louvered vents and the decorative gable end bargeboards with finials. (Criterion E)