In brief
A copy of "The Antiquities of Athens" borrowed in the 1870s was hidden in a tea chest behind a sealed fireplace in Kiama, Australia. The book was linked to John Simmons, an apprentice stonemason who worked on London’s Houses of Parliament and later became an architect in Australia. After nearly 150 years, descendant Ross Simmons discovered the volume and returned it to the library, where it now sits as a special item. The story highlights historic borrowing policies and the long‑awaited return of a rare book.
In a dusty corner of Kiama Library, a 19th‑century guide to Greek architecture emerged from a sealed fireplace after being stored in a tea chest for decades. The book, known as The Antiquities of Athens, was originally borrowed in the mid‑1870s and was thought lost until it was found by a descendant of its former borrower.
The volume’s journey began with John Simmons, an apprentice stonemason who worked on London’s Houses of Parliament before emigrating to Australia. Simmons’ nephew, Ross Simmons, believes the book was used as a reference while John was designing a sandstone church in Kiama.
When the tea chest was finally uncovered during renovations, Ross was handed the books for safekeeping. After searching the chest, he recognised the book by its distinctive cloth cover and a Kiama Library stamp on the first page.
Historical library policies added drama to the tale: members could borrow only one book, fines were about £97 (equivalent to AU$28,000 today), and intoxicated patrons were barred. Fortunately, the fine has been waived for this extraordinary return.
Today, the book is a special item in the Kiama collection and is preserved from further lending, ensuring it will not return to the library for another 150 years. Visitors from surrounding towns travel to see the unique volume and hear the story of its long‑awaited homecoming.
"People have travelled 40 minutes away to hold the book… it’s a beautiful little volume with an amazing story to tell," said library manager Michelle Hudson. "It’s in good condition, with water damage but still readable and richly illustrated with Greek monuments.", Hudson added.
The book was published in 1858 and contains fold‑out plates showing exact measurements of Greek monuments—an artifact of 19th‑century scholarship. Its return is a fitting tribute to a long‑ago vicarious link between local librarianship and the architectural heritage of Westminster.
The Kiama Library celebrated the book’s return by inviting community members to explore the historical collection, which originally had fewer than 1,000 titles. The library’s first 30‑year collection was established with a £200 grant in 1872.
This story illustrates how a single forgotten book can bridge centuries and continents, from the ancient Greek temples it describes to the historic chambers of the Houses of Parliament, and finally to the modest seaside library of Kiama.
