Message in a bottle: How this tiny time capsule survived for decades in Qld school roof
Almost nine decades ago a 16-year-old public works apprentice and his carpenter friend were working at a Brisbane school when they decided to leave a message in a bottle for their children.
The time capsule letter written in 1935 and hidden for eight decades in the roof of a Brisbane primary school. (Photo: Supplied).
Now, 86 years later, the Queensland Government is trying to unravel the mystery.
The bottle and its message, dated October 12, 1935, were found, hidden in the spire of the Junction Park State School at Annerley and the race is on to find the note-writer’s descendants.
The glass bottle, believed to be a soft drink bottle, with a cork inside contained a handwritten note which amazingly was still intact.
And the Department of Energy and Public Works is now wants to track down any of the family of the two authors to pass on the surprising find.
The bottle was unearthed when the Queensland Heritage Foundation was restoring windows recently at the heritage-listed school.
Dated October 1935, the letter says: “Douglas Heron, carpenter. Gordon Benson, apprentice. Built this fleche for Dept of Public Works, 12 of July, 1935. We now are looking down of you. Since removing it, if any of my children are living pass this onto them. RIP. Douglas Heron.”
The hand-written note found in a school roof after more than 80 years. (Photo: Supplied)
Another page says simply: “ 12th October 1935. Name Gordon Benson Age 16 Apprentice – Carpenter Dept Public Works Brisbane.”
The Department of Energy and Public Works says the bottle was found inside the fleche or spire, in a section that was not visible from inside the roof but only discoverable when the panels were removed.
The bottle is about 15cm tall and had a cork inside the bottle top.
The label was too deteriorated to identify the brand or what it contained but it is assumed to be a soft drink bottle.
Department Director-General Paul Martyn said the bottle was hidden at the time the school was being built.
Martyn said that 2022 is the 160th anniversary of the formation of the Department of Lands and Public Works.
“It is great to be reminded of our history and the people who built for us over the decades,” Martyn said.
Junction Park State School is heritage listed and has quite a history. It was first established in 1888 in a four-room cottage and known as Thompson Estate Provisional School, opening with 52 pupils.
In 1889, the school moved into a hall in Regent Street and then, as numbers grew, in 1891 it was moved to Junction Park and the current brick building was finished in 1936, worked on by the two young men who left a special message for their descendants.
