A copy of Antiquities of Athens, borrowed from Kiama Library in a coastal town south of Sydney during the mid-1870s, has been returned to the institution after remaining missing for 150 years. The volume was discovered recently inside a tea chest that had been concealed behind a boarded-up fireplace for several decades before being uncovered during home renovations approximately 30 years ago.
Ross Simmons, 77, believes his great-grandfather John Simmons may have borrowed the book to support his professional work. John Simmons studied in London between 1839 and 1844, subsequently apprenticing with stonemasons involved in constructing the Houses of Parliament before emigrating to Australia in 1857 at age 27. After initially settling in a Sydney suburb, he relocated to Kiama following his involvement in building a sandstone church there, establishing himself as an architect in the region.
The discovery came to light when Simmons examined the contents of the tea chest more thoroughly, finding the library’s stamp and borrowing conditions printed inside the book’s front cover. According to those conditions, patrons returning books past their due date faced a fine of three pence weekly. Library staff calculated that the accumulated penalty would total £97, equivalent to approximately AU$28,000 in current currency, though the library chose to waive the fee.
Michelle Hudson, the council libraries manager, noted the find has generated considerable public interest, with visitors traveling significant distances to view the volume in person. The cloth-bound book, marked as item number 506 in the library’s original collection from 1872, shows minor water damage but remains in generally good condition, featuring detailed illustrations and fold-out measurements of Greek monuments. The library has added it to its special collection, where it may be viewed by request but will no longer circulate to prevent another extended absence.
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