A book borrowed from the Kiama Library in Australia 150 years ago has finally made its way home. The volume, titled The Antiquities of Athens, was discovered by Ross Simmons while he was organizing family records stored in a tea chest. The chest had sat hidden behind a boarded-up fireplace for decades before its discovery during home renovations.
Ross Simmons believes his great-grandfather, John Simmons, was the original borrower. John Simmons worked as an apprentice stonemason on the Houses of Parliament in London during the mid-1800s before moving to Australia. As an architect, he likely used the book for professional reference after emigrating in 1857.
Library staff calculated that the accumulated late fees for the 150-year-old return would have totaled approximately 28,000 Australian dollars. However, the library waived the fine. The book, which dates back to 1858, was item number 506 in the library's original collection of fewer than 1,000 books.
Michelle Hudson, the manager of Kiama Council libraries, confirmed that the book is now a special collection item rather than a circulating one. It remains in good condition despite minor water damage. The library continues to display the item to visitors interested in the local historical connection between the stonemason and the seaside town's literary past.