A Piece of History Returns: The Apron of MW Bro Sir Robert Duff
03 July 25
In a remarkable gesture of fraternal goodwill and shared heritage, the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland has entrusted the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory with a significant piece of Masonic and colonial history - the Masonic apron of Most Worshipful Brother His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Robert William Duff, the third Grand Master of UGLNSW from 1893 to 1895 and Governor of New South Wales during the same period. The apron will be displayed at the Museum of Freemasonry at the Sydney Masonic Centre.
The historic apron was presented to the current Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT, MW Bro Khris Albano at the Freemasons’ Hall in Edinburgh, during his visit to Scotland in June 2025. This moment of fraternal exchange not only symbolised the deep historical ties between the two Grand Lodges. 55 lodges under the Scottish Constitution were part of the unification of the UGL NSW in 1888.
Sir Robert Duff’s journey in Freemasonry began in July 1864 when he was initiated into Lodge St. Andrew No. 52, operating under the Scottish Constitution. Upon his appointment as Governor of New South Wales in 1893, he affiliated with Lodge Ionic under the New South Wales Constitution and was subsequently installed as the third Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales.
Sir Robert’s tenure as Grand Master was distinguished but tragically brief. Following his attendance at a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania, he fell critically ill on his return journey to Sydney. Upon arrival on 15 March, he passed away at Government House, becoming the first Governor of New South Wales - and the first Grand Master of the UGLNSW —to die while holding office.
His passing left a profound mark not only on Freemasonry but also on the colony of New South Wales. Contemporary reports described his funeral as an unprecedented public event. Newspapers at the time recorded that an estimated 200,000 people lined the streets of Sydney to pay their respects - an extraordinary figure considering the city’s population in the 1890s was less than half a million. Eyewitnesses recalled that the funeral procession took over an hour to pass any given point, with ferries and trains delivering mourners from across the colony.
Following his death, Sir Robert’s personal belongings, including his Masonic regalia, were returned to Scotland. His apron was donated by his family to the Grand Lodge of Scotland, where it remained as a testament to his dual roles as a colonial statesman and a dedicated Freemason.
This historic return of his apron to New South Wales was made possible through the cooperation and fraternal harmony between the Grand Lodges of Scotland and New South Wales & ACT. The current Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, MW Bro Ramsay McGhee, graciously facilitated the transfer, and their Grand Secretary RW Bro William Semple, authorised the regalia of this esteemed Past Grand Master to be reunited with the jurisdiction he once led.
Sir Robert Duff's legacy continues not only in Freemasonry but also in the civic history of New South Wales. His grave, located in Waverley Cemetery overlooking the Pacific Ocean, bears a touching tribute from his widow, Lady Duff: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” It is an inscription that resonates deeply with Masons today who reflect upon his service, character, and enduring contribution.
The apron will soon reside in the Museum of Freemasonry in Sydney—a tangible link to the past and a reminder of the enduring bonds of brotherhood that transcend time and borders.
📸RW Bro Joe Corrigan Chair BOM