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The Doyleston lodges
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TitleThe Doyleston lodges
DescriptionOddfellows Lodge
According to Singleton (2007) the first lodge in Doyleston belonged to the Oddfellows (The Loyal Doyleston Lodge).
The Lyttelton Times recorded that on the 17th September 1874, a special meeting of the North Canterbury District met to consider an application from the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge (on behalf of a number of persons at Doyleston) to open a Lodge at Doyleston. The application was unanimously granted.
With Doyleston starting, there were 13 Lodges and 900 members in the North Canterbury district.
At the half-yearly meeting in July 1875, J.H. Doyle, H.C. Parker J. McVinnie, and J. Blackler were elected as officers and the meeting looked for a suitable room.
The first-anniversary ball was held in September 1875 in the first Doyleston hall which was very tastefully decorated for the occasion.
About 40 couples attended and as they used to say “dancing was kept up with great spirit through the night”.
The 1876 ball was held in the same venue and in the same month.
At the June 1878 meeting, only J.H. Doyle and J. Blackler remained on the new and expanded committee from 1875.
A meeting agreed that a ball with supper was the best way to celebrate the 4th anniversary on October 1st 1878. Approximately 100 people attended and danced and ate until 7am.
The 5th anniversary was celebrated with tea and entertainment.
By February 1880, the group was planning to build their own hall.
A meeting to set up a Lodge in Leeston was held at the hotel in March 1880 and very quickly the Doyleston group opposed its formation as the two townships were too close.
The Doyleston Oddfellows’ new hall in Queen Street was opened on the 4th of June 1880 with a tea meeting for 100 people catered by J.H. Doyle, before a speech declared the hall opened.
The crowd then moved to the first hall for dancing.
At their 6th anniversary, dinner took place in the Oddfellows hall, followed by a ball in the Doyleston hall.
Leeston’s approval occurred in November. Throughout 1880 and 1881 the Doyleston Lodge had problems obtaining the services of a doctor, and advertisements were put in the local newspapers.
At the September 1881 meeting it was decided to hold a picnic, at the Maori Pa, as a celebration of their anniversary.
Unfortunately by September 1882, membership had dropped from 35 to 10 as members moved to Leeston Lodge to get access to a doctor. The Doyleston Lodge considered closing.
The Oddfellows Hall was towed to Leeston, with some difficulty and skill, in 1884, by Job Osborne driving his traction engine. It became the Presbyterian Sunday School building.
Orange Lodge
It was reported on the 12th of August 1876, that a successful request was made to the Middle Island of the Orange Institution to start a new Lodge at Doyleston.
The first hall at Doyleston was the venue for the opening of The Star of Ellesmere Loyal Orange Lodge No 22 on the 23rd of August 1876.
In 1882 a new Orange Hall was opened at Leeston.
Druids Lodge
The Druids were the 3rd Lodge to use the first Doyleston hall, as a meeting of interested persons was called to form a Druids Lodge at Doyleston on the 18th August 1888.
A second attempt was made in the Doyleston Sunday School on 13th July 1895, as the first hall had been burnt down by this time.
The second hall then became the home of the very popular local Druids Lodge (U.A.O.D. no 17) but a photograph will have to suffice for the rest of the druid’s story at this stage.
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date29 October 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoyleston
DescriptionOddfellows LodgeAccording to Singleton (2007) the first lodge in Doyleston belonged to the Oddfellows (The Loyal Doyleston Lodge).
The Lyttelton Times recorded that on the 17th September 1874, a special meeting of the North Canterbury District met to consider an application from the Loyal City of Christchurch Lodge (on behalf of a number of persons at Doyleston) to open a Lodge at Doyleston. The application was unanimously granted.
With Doyleston starting, there were 13 Lodges and 900 members in the North Canterbury district.
At the half-yearly meeting in July 1875, J.H. Doyle, H.C. Parker J. McVinnie, and J. Blackler were elected as officers and the meeting looked for a suitable room.
The first-anniversary ball was held in September 1875 in the first Doyleston hall which was very tastefully decorated for the occasion.
About 40 couples attended and as they used to say “dancing was kept up with great spirit through the night”.
The 1876 ball was held in the same venue and in the same month.
At the June 1878 meeting, only J.H. Doyle and J. Blackler remained on the new and expanded committee from 1875.
A meeting agreed that a ball with supper was the best way to celebrate the 4th anniversary on October 1st 1878. Approximately 100 people attended and danced and ate until 7am.
The 5th anniversary was celebrated with tea and entertainment.
By February 1880, the group was planning to build their own hall.
A meeting to set up a Lodge in Leeston was held at the hotel in March 1880 and very quickly the Doyleston group opposed its formation as the two townships were too close.
The Doyleston Oddfellows’ new hall in Queen Street was opened on the 4th of June 1880 with a tea meeting for 100 people catered by J.H. Doyle, before a speech declared the hall opened.
The crowd then moved to the first hall for dancing.
At their 6th anniversary, dinner took place in the Oddfellows hall, followed by a ball in the Doyleston hall.
Leeston’s approval occurred in November. Throughout 1880 and 1881 the Doyleston Lodge had problems obtaining the services of a doctor, and advertisements were put in the local newspapers.
At the September 1881 meeting it was decided to hold a picnic, at the Maori Pa, as a celebration of their anniversary.
Unfortunately by September 1882, membership had dropped from 35 to 10 as members moved to Leeston Lodge to get access to a doctor. The Doyleston Lodge considered closing.
The Oddfellows Hall was towed to Leeston, with some difficulty and skill, in 1884, by Job Osborne driving his traction engine. It became the Presbyterian Sunday School building.
Orange Lodge
It was reported on the 12th of August 1876, that a successful request was made to the Middle Island of the Orange Institution to start a new Lodge at Doyleston.
The first hall at Doyleston was the venue for the opening of The Star of Ellesmere Loyal Orange Lodge No 22 on the 23rd of August 1876.
In 1882 a new Orange Hall was opened at Leeston.
Druids Lodge
The Druids were the 3rd Lodge to use the first Doyleston hall, as a meeting of interested persons was called to form a Druids Lodge at Doyleston on the 18th August 1888.
A second attempt was made in the Doyleston Sunday School on 13th July 1895, as the first hall had been burnt down by this time.
The second hall then became the home of the very popular local Druids Lodge (U.A.O.D. no 17) but a photograph will have to suffice for the rest of the druid’s story at this stage.
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date29 October 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoylestonConnections
CollectionHistory of DoylestonOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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The Doyleston lodges (29 October 2020). Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5307