150-Year-Old Library Book Discovered Behind Fireplace

Aug 1, 2026

57 min

Aug 1, 2026 13:31

Found behind a fireplace: Library book returned 150 years late

## Victorian-Era Book Found

During a home renovation in Kiama, New South Wales, a library book from the Victorian era was uncovered behind a sealed fireplace. The book, "Antiquities of Athens," published in 1858, was found inside a tea crate bricked into the chimney.

## A Century-Old Mystery

The book's return solves a mystery that has puzzled librarians for over a century. It is believed to have been borrowed shortly after the Kiama Library opened in 1872. Homeowner Ross Simmons, who discovered the book, thinks it might have belonged to his great-great-grandfather, though records from that time are unavailable.

## Remarkable Condition

Despite being hidden for approximately 150 years, the book survived with only minor water damage. Library manager Michelle Hudson noted it as the oldest overdue return the library has ever received.

## Historical Significance

The book will not be returned to circulation but will instead be preserved as part of the library's local history collection. Victorian borrowing rules inside the book mention a fine of three pence per week for overdue returns, which would equate to about A$28,000 today, though the library no longer imposes such fines.

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