Anticipation is at fever pitch in Narrandera over the opening of this time capsule. Photo: Narrandera Shire Council.
Half a century ago, someone in Narrandera sealed away a snapshot of local life inside a time capsule and quietly left it beneath the Parkside Cottage Museum.
Nobody seems to know what’s inside, but this Friday (24 April), exactly 50 years after it was buried in 1976, the mystery will finally be solved.
What is known comes from fragments of history. A 1976 photograph shows Frank Duval, then patron of the Narrandera and Sturt Historical Society, sealing the time capsule. There are also references suggesting that documents from the Narrandera Race Club may have been included. Beyond that, however, the record goes quiet. The contents remain largely unknown, and even the ownership arrangements after opening were never clearly documented.
Region was informed popular former councillor Wes Hall may have had a role in burying the capsule, but his memory is hazy.
“I was only nine years old then and attending Narrandera Public School,” he said.
”It was a long time ago. I remember Frank Duval, he was a prominent figure in his day. It was quite something to get him involved, so may have been there.
“I suspect there’ll be some schoolwork inside the capsule. It’ll be interesting to see if any of my old hand paintings are in there.”
Liz Lawrence, the longtime editor of the Narrandera Argus, has covered news in the town for 60 years.
She thinks there may be souvenir early editions of her paper inside, but sadly, she wasn’t the reporter who got to cover the 1976 burial.
One observer on social media said he hoped to find clean water inside — a reference to the town’s modern-day problems with filthy, discoloured water sometimes coming out of taps.
Coins, letters, recipes, personal diaries, historical household items and video footage are other items typically kept in such capsules.
The Parkside Cottage Museum volunteers, who do their best to preserve the town’s history. Photo: Parkside Cottage Museum.
Narrandera Shire Council acknowledged that the contents and their conditions remain unknown and encouraged the community to be realistic in its expectations. Items within the community time capsule will remain the council’s property while they are catalogued and assessed.
Following the opening, people with a particular interest in any items may submit an expression of interest through the council. Subject to consideration by the council and the museum committee, items may, where appropriate, be returned to the original contributor or their family. All items will be available for viewing and photography on the day, but will remain in the museum’s care for cataloguing and preservation.
In preparation for the event, council staff will undertake a careful inspection of the capsule to determine the safest method for opening and assess its condition. This will help ensure the preservation of its contents and the smooth running of the opening ceremony.
The event follows strong community interest generated by local museum volunteers, who have already begun the countdown to the milestone occasion.
The council has also noted the importance of preserving accurate records for future generations and will continue efforts to document other local time capsules, including those installed in 2001 and during the 2013 sesquicentenary celebrations.
Narrandera Shire Council, with the Parkside Cottage Museum Committee, is inviting the community to witness the opening at 10 am on Friday (24 April) at the museum, corner of Twynam and Cadell streets.
