SOUVENIR OF UAOD GRAND LODGE OPENING, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The historic Druids Grand Lodge building—known as Druids House or Druids Chambers—was located at 459 Hay Street, Perth. In addition to housing lodge offices and chambers, the building and surrounding addresses (445–459 Hay St) later hosted commercial tenants through the mid-20th century, including photography studios and retail shops. The original building footprint at 459–463 Hay Street has undergone modern commercial redevelopment applications and use shifts typical of central Hay Street.

The original Druids existed in iron age Britain and Europe as a ruling order of priests. In 1781 the Ancient Order of Druids (AOD) was formed in England. In 1833 a group split off from this organisation to form an order more open to different social classes. It was named the United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD) and was structured as a benefit society. The motto of the Order was “United to Assist” and their aim was stated as “Unity, Peace and Concord”. Today many practitioners of Druidry, rather than being members of a traditional fraternal society, practice an earth-centred spiritual path and follow a nature-based religion focused on ecology, personal growth, and honouring the natural world.