Hobart City 50-year time capsule interred
Published on 05 September 2017
At a morning tea held at the Hobart Town Hall today, a time capsule full to the brim with stories and mementos of the Hobart Town Hall was interred under the stage in the Town Hall Ballroom.
The Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Sue Hickey said this marks the final celebration of the Town Hall’s 150th birthday, celebrated in 2016.
Over the past year, we have managed to completely fill the time capsule with people’s stories and memories, mementos from members of the public and community groups, as well as beautiful drawings and stories from Hobart’s school children.
“The collection commenced with a set of the day’s currency, the day’s edition of the Mercury newspaper a photo of the sitting aldermen and a range of other mementos.
“Today, it contains a record of the celebrations of the 150th Anniversary, as well a plethora of Council documents and records that will be of interest to people in 2066.
“Some of the interesting inclusions we received from the public include a City of Hobart Centenary Handbook from 1957; a pictorial of all of Henry Hunter’s buildings; a photograph of a medal presented to the Secretary of the Employers Union at the Town Hall in 1918; and photograph of the Australian Boys Choir performing at the Hobart Town Hall in 1951.
“The capsule also includes stories and drawings from hundreds of Hobart school children about their vision for the future and what they like about living in Hobart,” said the Lord Mayor
The capsule has been buried under the stage in the Town Hall Ballroom with instructions for it to be opened in 2066 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Hobart Town Hall.
The final inclusion in the capsule was a letter from the Lord Mayor of the day to whomever the Lord Mayor of Hobart in 2066 shall be. It contained the happenings in Hobart in 2016, what it was like to be the Lord Mayor of Hobart in 2016 and best wishes for a significant celebration in 2066 on what will be the 200th birthday of the Hobart Town Hall.
“It is exciting to think that with our celebrations last year, we raised significant community awareness of the Town Hall and its importance not only in its history, but today to enable a beautiful public building to continue to be treasured for another 150 years,” said the Lord Mayor.