Book Returned 150 Years Late to Australian Library

A local library in the Australian coastal town of Kiama received an astonishing surprise last week when a book was returned an estimated 150 years after its due date. The long-overdue volume, Antiquities of Athens (1858) by James Stuart and Nicholas Revett, was discovered by a resident during home renovations—hidden inside a tea crate that had been bricked into a disused fireplace. The remarkable story has captured international attention, with the 150-year-overdue library book now set to become a treasured exhibit rather than returning to circulation.

How Was the 150-Year-Overdue Book Discovered?

Ross Simmons, 77, was renovating his family home in Kiama, a picturesque coastal town about 120 kilometres south of Sydney, when he made the unexpected find. Tucked away inside a tea chest sealed behind bricks in an old fireplace, the book had survived more than a century hidden from view. Simmons believes that his great-great-grandfather, John Simmons—a former alderman of Kiama—was the original borrower. The house had been passed down through the family for generations, and the book appears to have been concealed during an earlier renovation decades ago.

"I have no idea why my ancestor never returned it," Simmons told reporters. He speculated that his great-great-grandfather may have hidden the book intentionally, though the reason remains a mystery lost to time. The discovery echoes other cases of long-lost items resurfacing, much like the oldest overdue library books in history that have occasionally reappeared after centuries.

What Is "Antiquities of Athens"?

The recovered volume is Antiquities of Athens and Other Monuments of Greece, a significant 19th-century architectural study by James Stuart and Nicholas Revett. Published in 1858 by Henry G. Bohn of London, the book contains approximately 70 illustrated plates depicting ancient Greek architecture and monuments. It was the 506th book catalogued in the Kiama Library's original collection of around 1,000 volumes when the institution first opened its doors in 1872. Despite suffering some water damage from years of sitting beneath a chimney, the book is described by library staff as being in "remarkably good condition."

The 150-Year Overdue Fine: What Would It Cost Today?

Under the library's original rules printed inside the book's cover, borrowers were charged a late fee of three pence per week. Adjusted for inflation, that modest sum would balloon to approximately A$28,000 (around €17,000 or US$19,500) over 150 years. However, Simmons said he wasn't worried about the penalty when he returned the book. His instincts proved correct: Kiama Library no longer imposes overdue fines. Library manager Michelle Hudson noted that while a payment of that size "might have helped a little with the library's financial challenges," no fine would be sought.

The question of who actually borrowed the book remains unanswered. The library's lending journal from the 1870s, which would have recorded the borrower's name, was lost long ago. "Unfortunately, there is nothing in the book itself that tells us who the last borrower was," Hudson explained. Without that record, the connection to John Simmons remains a family tradition rather than a confirmed fact—a historical mystery surrounding lost library books that may never be fully resolved.

What Happens to the Book Now?

The library has decided to place Antiquities of Athens on permanent display in its Local Studies collection, dedicated to preserving the history of the Kiama region. The book will not be lent out again. "We don't want to wait another 150 years for this book to be returned," Hudson quipped in a statement that has since gone viral on social media. The library shared images of the returned book on Instagram, generating widespread interest and amusement.

A Global Phenomenon of Overdue Returns

While 150 years is extraordinary, it is not quite a world record. The Guinness World Record for the most overdue library book belongs to a 1609 German volume about the Archbishop of Bremen, returned to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1956—288 years after it was borrowed. However, the Kiama return is believed to be the longest overdue library book in Australia. Such stories tend to captivate the public because they offer a tangible link to the past and a reminder that even in the digital age, physical books can endure across centuries.

FAQ

What book was returned 150 years late to the Kiama Library?

The book is Antiquities of Athens (1858) by James Stuart and Nicholas Revett, an illustrated study of ancient Greek architecture. It was the 506th book in the library's original 1872 collection.

Who returned the overdue book?

Ross Simmons, a 77-year-old resident of Kiama, discovered the book during home renovations and returned it to the library. He believes his great-great-grandfather John Simmons originally borrowed it.

What was the fine for the 150-year-overdue library book?

Calculated using the original three-pence-per-week fee, the fine would total approximately A$28,000 (€17,000). However, Kiama Library no longer charges overdue fines, so no payment was required.

Why was the book hidden in a fireplace?

No one knows for certain. The book was found inside a tea crate bricked into a disused fireplace. It may have been concealed during renovations generations ago, possibly to avoid paying the library fine that would have been required before borrowing another book.

Will the book be available to borrow again?

No. Kiama Library has placed the book in its Local Studies collection for permanent display. It will not be lent out to the public.