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The United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD) in Aotearoa New Zealand
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TitleThe United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD) in Aotearoa New Zealand
DescriptionBy the 1920s there was a Druid lodge in most small towns, with cities having several. At their peak in the 1950s, the UAOD in Aotearoa New Zealand had approximately 25,000 members. There were four active UAOD lodges (branches) in Waikirikiri Selwyn which operated under the Grand Lodge of Canterbury:
• Star of Anglesea Lodge (UAOD no. 110 or no. 6), Lincoln
Formally opened in 1880. The Druids’ hall was built in 1894 before being sold in 1931 becoming the Lincoln Public Hall, later incorporated into the Lincoln Community Centre.
• Ethelbert Lodge (UAOD no. 99 or no. 4), Springston
Formally opened in 1880, commonly operated out of the Springston Hall.
• Old Oak lodge (UAOD no.16), Southbridge
Opened in 1883, originally using the old Orange Hall but often based in the Southbridge Town Hall.
• Ellesmere Lodge (UAOD no. 17), Doyleston
The last of the Selwyn lodges, founded in 1895. Operated out of the second Doyleston Hall.
Membership of the UOAD in Aotearoa New Zealand declined from the 1970s as institutionalised social welfare improved, and with other organisations able to fulfil social needs. Each branch of the UAOD declined at different rates. Nearing the end of the 20th century the Grand Lodge of Canterbury made the decision not to receive any new memberships, with the Lodge formally closed by the mid 2010’s. While the remaining druids reformed into the New Grand Lodge of Druids of New Zealand 1999 Northern Jurisdiction with 14 lodges, these lodges closed by mid-2024 alongside the New Zealand branch of the International Grand Lodge of Druidism.
DateAugust 2026
DescriptionBy the 1920s there was a Druid lodge in most small towns, with cities having several. At their peak in the 1950s, the UAOD in Aotearoa New Zealand had approximately 25,000 members. There were four active UAOD lodges (branches) in Waikirikiri Selwyn which operated under the Grand Lodge of Canterbury:• Star of Anglesea Lodge (UAOD no. 110 or no. 6), Lincoln
Formally opened in 1880. The Druids’ hall was built in 1894 before being sold in 1931 becoming the Lincoln Public Hall, later incorporated into the Lincoln Community Centre.
• Ethelbert Lodge (UAOD no. 99 or no. 4), Springston
Formally opened in 1880, commonly operated out of the Springston Hall.
• Old Oak lodge (UAOD no.16), Southbridge
Opened in 1883, originally using the old Orange Hall but often based in the Southbridge Town Hall.
• Ellesmere Lodge (UAOD no. 17), Doyleston
The last of the Selwyn lodges, founded in 1895. Operated out of the second Doyleston Hall.
Membership of the UOAD in Aotearoa New Zealand declined from the 1970s as institutionalised social welfare improved, and with other organisations able to fulfil social needs. Each branch of the UAOD declined at different rates. Nearing the end of the 20th century the Grand Lodge of Canterbury made the decision not to receive any new memberships, with the Lodge formally closed by the mid 2010’s. While the remaining druids reformed into the New Grand Lodge of Druids of New Zealand 1999 Northern Jurisdiction with 14 lodges, these lodges closed by mid-2024 alongside the New Zealand branch of the International Grand Lodge of Druidism.
DateAugust 2026Connections
Collection‘United to Assist’: the Druids of Selwyn OrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByNoah RobertsonWritten ByNoah RobertsonDate WrittenBetween 1st January 2026 and 1st August 2026
Written ByNoah RobertsonDate WrittenBetween 1st January 2026 and 1st August 2026Click on the image to add
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The United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD) in Aotearoa New Zealand (August 2026). Selwyn Stories, accessed 16/10/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/7155