The United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Victoria (Australia) was solemnly constituted at a meeting held at the Freemasons Hall, 25 Collins St, Melbourne on 30 may 1899. On the day following this meeting Most Worshipful Brother Edward Coulson was duly installed as Grand Master, an office he held until his death in July 1936.

At the time of that union there were 15 Mark Master Mason Lodges (5 English and 10 Scottish) and 1 Royal Ark Mariner Lodge (English) owing loyalty to the new Grand Lodge. Just over 100 hundred years later that number has expanded to 107 Mark Master Mason Lodges and 39 Royal Ark Mariner Lodges including 2 Mark Master Mason Lodges and 1 Royal Ark Mariner Lodge meeting in Tasmania. In Victoria and Tasmania, the Royal Ark Mariners' fraternity is administered by Grand Mark.

The book of Constitution, Rule 86, of The United Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Victoria reads: "The Grand Lodge hereby declares that Freemasonry consists of the following degrees:

• Entered Apprentice
  
• Fellow Craft
  
• Master Mason
  
• Mark Master Mason
  
• Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch"

The close fraternal relation enjoyed with the United Grand Lodge of Victoria and the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Freemasons of Victoria is a source of pride and inspiration to this Grand Lodge.

Grand Masters usually serve two years in office. The first installation may be termed "public" and is conducted in the Dallas Brooks Hall. Craft Masons and non-Masons, including ladies, are encouraged to attend the ceremony. In the second year a more "private" installation ceremony is held in the Lord Somers Room and is usually attended by Mark Masons only. The Grand Banquet follows the Ceremony of Installation, and in comfortable surrounds Brethren and ladies enjoy good food, good wine and good company. The happy relaxed atmosphere is enhanced by good entertainment, ranging from solo artists to a 20 piece orchestra.

At the Grand Banquet, the annual award known as "The Grand Master’s Award for Excellence" is presented. This prize is given to the best third year apprentice at the Stonemasons College, Holmesglen. This award was instituted in 1994 to demonstrate the commitment of this Grand Lodge to the continuing practice of the stone mason’s art.

The winners since 1994 have been:

• 1994 Christian Bussmann
• 1995 Joe Michienzi
• 1996 Steve Sagoleo
• 1997 William Lay
• 1998 Shaun McMurray
• 1999 Simon Berry
• 2000 Aaron Sutherland
• 2001 Alistair Thompson
• 2002 Gregory Tyrell
• 2003 Mark Stammers

It has now become the custom to also award a "mark" to the winner. The "mark" is inscribed on a certificate which bears the following explanation:

"In accordance with an antient custom, each mason was, in times past, given his mark on the completion of his period of apprenticeship as proof that he was properly qualified. In order that his work may be known to the overseers on the building site and as a guarantee of quality he would place his mark on all stones of importance prepared by him.The cathedrals and castles of Great Britain and Europe provide ample testimony to this practice of marking the stones.

In an age when few could write, the mark could be used in place of a signature. To this day, legal documents still allow for a person's signature or his mark. It may also be used on tools and clothing as proof of ownership.

As the issuing of marks was once regulated by the Guild so this mark is enrolled and recorded by the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Victoria. The mark allocated having been specifically chosen by the Most Worshipful Grand Master for each individual recipient of the Award for Excellence. He is encouraged to use the mark in the daily practice of his craft"

One of the more unusual features of Victorian Mark Masonry is the fact that the Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master or a Grand Warden conduct the Ceremony of Installation in every Lodge in the jurisdiction each year.

Considering the large number of Lodges plus the Royal Ark Mariner Enthronement Ceremonies this makes for something of an arduous task. However, it has the decided advantage of allowing the Grand Master and his Grand Officers ample opportunity to meet a large part of the membership of the Degrees in their own Lodges.

Since 1993, an informative and interesting "Special Lecture" has customarily preceded the August Quarterly Communications of the Grand Lodge, as follows:

• 1993 The Cutting Of The Keystone
• 1995 Medieval Gothic Architecture
• 1996 A Workman from the Quarries
• 1997 The Curious Carver
• 1998 The Restoration of St Patrick's Cathedral
• 1999 Cut From the Living Rock
• 2000 Petra
• 2001 The Great Wall Of China
• 2002 Demonstration - The Cutting Of The Keystone
• 2003 Building Pyramids In The Egyptian Old Kingdom
• 2004 The Stonework Of The Maya

In 1989 Grand Mark began sharing its administration with Supreme Grand Chapter. The Joint Secretariat company, Chamar Pty Ltd (Chapter Mark) operates from the offices on the ground floor of the Masonic Centre of Victoria. The Grand secretary is also the Grand Scribe Ezra. Considerable benefits have accrued to both degrees by this "togetherness".

By arrangement with the United Grand Lodge of Victoria, Mark Lodges are permitted to make official visits to Craft Lodges wearing Mark regalia. While every fifth Craft Mason already belongs to the Mark, these visits nevertheless provide the window of opportunity to bring our friendly Degree to the notice of our Craft Brethren. By a similar arrangement, Mark jewels may be worn when in Royal Arch regalia.

Charity, one of the cornerstones of our institution, is practiced by both individual lodges and and the Grand Lodge. In addition to donations to the Royal Freemasons Homes and the Freemasons Hospital, an ongoing programme called the "We Care" Appeal (in conjunction with Supreme Grand Chapter) has brought children from the Philippines for corrective cranial surgery and also provided funds for the publication of several technical books by the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne.

The excellent rapport between this Grand Lodge and the Royal Children’s Hospital is viewed by Mark Masons as a sound investment in the future of the State of Victoria.

After more than one hundred years, the United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Victoria looks to the future with great confidence and considerable anticipation as we enter into the second millennium. In Victorian Freemasonry the Degree of Mark Master Mason is big enough to matter, but small enough to be intimate.