The Northern Rivers Times
December 7, 2023
12 NEWS
Contents of Murwillumbah’s three 50-year-old time capsules revealed
HISTORY REVEALED: Council staff, accompanied by John Henley and Garry Smith - former members of the community service organisation Apex - examine the contents of Murwillumbah’s community time capsule placed by Apex in 1973.
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 find. 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 finally opened on November
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LETTERS FROM THE PAST: Descendants of well-known local identity and former councillor Clarrie Hall browsing the photographs and letters addressed to them in Council’s time capsule. From left, Suzanne, Geoff, Richard, Beverley and Margaret.
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
Mr Smith said it was
and 2022.
sealed envelopes, were
disappointing their
Tweed Shire Council
in good shape.
time capsule had been
is inviting owners
The construction
compromised, however
or descendants of
worker’s capsule
community members
community members
contained papers and
would still have an
letters.
opportunity to view the
The contents of the
sodden goods.
Apex capsule were
“We were so looking
slowly removed by staff
forward to an opening
who were qualified to
ceremony where we
One family has already
handle historic items and
could all view and
been reunited with the
transferred to a plastic
celebrate this moment
letters left for them
sheeting in the sun to
in Murwillumbah’s
by their well-known
assess and neutralise
history,” Mr Smith said.
ancestor - former Tweed
active mould.
“But unfortunately,
Shire councillor Clarrie
The remaining two
the capsule did not
Hall, which the Tweed’s
capsules’ contents, which
stand the test of time
main dam was named
were less affected by
and succumbed to the
after.
moisture and mould,
elements.”
were laid on a table to
Murwillumbah has
dry.
experienced several
Former Apex members
floods since the capsules
Garry Smith, who was
were placed, including
present at the sealing of
the major flood in
20, 2023, to claim
the Apex capsule, and
1974 which inundated
identifiable contents.
John Henley, watched
the library site and
All unidentified
as the capsules were
subsequent floods in
damaged items will be
opened.
1989, 2001, 2008, 2017
disposed of.
DEFG!E
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who contributed a message to a time capsule to come forward to claim their items.
Visit yoursaytweed. com.au/time-capsule to submit an application by Wednesday, December
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02 6642 8600