Contents of Murwillumbah’s three 50-year-old time capsules revealed

By Sarah Waters

The true treasures from one of the 50-yearold time capsules unearthed from beneath Murwillumbah Library may never be known.

After half-a-century under the ground, the seal on the time capsule placed by community service organisation Apex, did not withstand the test of time, leaving memoirs and relics damaged.

Two-time capsules, in the form of metal barrels, were buried in 1973 at the start of construction of the Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre.

They contained 50-year-old letters from the NSW Governor, Tweed Shire President, community members as well as newspapers and photographs.

One capsule was placed by Tweed Shire Council and another by the Murwillumbah branch of Apex Australia on behalf of the community.

A third capsule - a small, wax-sealed glass jar placed by Civic Centre construction workers - was a surprise fnd.

At the 50-year mark in October this year, the capsules were made available for public viewing for several weeks while still in their resting place.

However, there was worry the contents may be damaged as the capsules were buried in the dirt below the foundations of the library with little protection from the elements.

When they were fnally opened on November

9, in a controlled environment, the time they had spent underground appeared to have taken its toll on the Apex capsule.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said unfortunately the seal on Apex’s time capsule had failed to protect the contents.

“Sadly, initial concerns for the conditions of the contents were warranted,” Ms Cherry said.

“The contents of Apex’s community capsule were damaged to varying degrees, from completely disintegrated through to sodden and covered in active mould,” she said.

Council’s capsule survived a lot better and most of the material, including council papers, a small number of photographs and several sealed envelopes, were in good shape.

The construction worker’s capsule contained papers and letters.

The contents of the Apex capsule were slowly removed by staff who were qualifed to handle historic items and transferred to a plastic sheeting in the sun to assess and neutralise active mould.

The remaining two capsules’ contents, which were less affected by moisture and mould, were laid on a table to dry.

Former Apex members Garry Smith, who was present at the sealing of the Apex capsule, and John Henley, watched as the capsules were opened.

Mr Smith said it was disappointing their time capsule had been compromised, however community members would still have an opportunity to view the sodden goods.

“We were so looking forward to an opening ceremony where we could all view and celebrate this moment in Murwillumbah’s history,” Mr Smith said.

“But unfortunately, the capsule did not stand the test of time and succumbed to the elements.”

Murwillumbah has experienced several foods since the capsules were placed, including the major food in 1974 which inundated the library site and subsequent foods in 1989, 2001, 2008, 2017 and 2022.

Tweed Shire Council is inviting owners or descendants of community members who contributed a message to a time capsule to come forward to claim their items. One family has already been reunited with the letters left for them by their well-known ancestor - former Tweed Shire councillor Clarrie Hall, which the Tweed’s main dam was named after.

Visit yoursaytweed. com.au/time-capsule to submit an application by Wednesday, December 20, 2023, to claim identifable contents.

All unidentifed damaged items will be disposed of.