Lismore Masonic Lodge Fire: Incident Overview

The historic Lismore (New South Wales, Australia) Masonic Lodge, a significant early 20th-century timber and masonry structure was destroyed by fire in the pre-dawn hours of October 15, 2025. The lodge, originally constructed in the 1920s–1930s and recently restored following substantial flood damage in 2022, functioned not only as the meeting place for Freemasons but also as a community hub for dance, theatre, and cultural activities.

Incident Cause

As of October 16, local police have charged two men in connection with suspected arson. Initial investigations indicate the fire was deliberately lit, though the precise ignition source and sequence are pending full forensic analysis. The building’s recent occupation and restoration made it a high-profile crime scene. Two men (aged 36 and 32) are arrested by police in connection with the fire. Both are charged with aggravated break and enter and causing damage by fire.

With the Masonic Lodge fire Lismore has just suffered its fourth significant fire in six months:

• September 2025: A deadly house fire in East Lismore resulted in one fatality and a structural collapse, with investigations ongoing.​
• March 2025: The historic Richmond River High School campus in North Lismore (abandoned after the 2022 floods) was destroyed in a suspicious fire, drawing over 50 firefighters to the scene.​
• Other incidents this year include at least one more major building fire referenced in local forums and news, contributing to growing community distress about repeated losses, especially to heritage sites and important community structures

The frequency and impact of these recent fires have deeply unsettled the local community, already recovering from past disasters.

Building Description

The Lismore Masonic Lodge comprised a main hall with a robust masonry facade and an expansive rear section constructed primarily of timber—typical of historic Lismore civic buildings utilizing local “big scrub” hardwoods. The architecturally prominent facade contrasted with the vulnerable, combustible timber superstructure at the rear, which housed auxiliary and storage spaces.

Firefighting operations

Firefighters arriving shortly after 4 am found heavy fire involvement at the rear timber section, with rapid extension to the roof and eventual structural collapse of the main hall’s roof. The fire’s intensity was amplified by the abundant dry timber and contents, remnants from both lodge and community uses. This rapid-fire spread, and the resulting radiant exposure, destroyed adjoining structures before suppression efforts could contain the incident.

Emergency Operations

Multiple Fire and Rescue NSW crews responded from Lismore, Goonellabah, and surrounding towns. The operation focused on defensive containment, roof sector cooling, and exposure protection for adjacent buildings. Crews managed to prevent further spread, though both the lodge and the next-door property were declared total losses by 6 am. No casualties were reported, and a crime scene was established immediately following extinguishment for police and specialist fire investigators.