Man Returns Book To Library After 150 Years In Australia, Faces Fine Amounting To Almost Rs 19 Lakh

Published 1 August 2026 · india

Man Returns Book To Library After 150 Years In Australia, Faces Fine Amounting To Almost Rs 19 Lakh Published By, Last Updated: August 01, 2026

Man Returns Book To Library After 150 Years In Australia, Faces Fine Amounting To Almost Rs 19 Lakh Published By, Last Updated: August 01, 2026, 09:09 IST What happens when a library book turns up 150 years late—hidden in a fireplace? A dusty discovery in Australia reveals a curious past. Rapid Read An Australian man returned a book after 150 years that his great great grandfather had borrowed. He was informed the fine amounts to Rs 19 lakh. (Image courtesy: Reuters) A book on Greek antiquities was returned to an Australian public library roughly 150 years overdue, after spending decades bricked inside a fireplace. The volume resurfaced during home renovations in the seaside town of Kiama, where resident Ross Simmons discovered it hidden in a tea crate sealed behind a fireplace that was sealed.

He returned it to the local library last week, according to library manager Michelle Hudson. “We’ve never had anything that old come back," Hudson said, noting that most long-lost returns are usually a few decades overdue at most. Simmons believes the book may have been borrowed by his great-great-grandfather, John Simmons, who owned the house at the time. “I’m making an assumption," he said, adding that his ancestor lived there when the library first opened. Kiama Library dates back to 1872, and the book, Antiquities of Athens, published in 1858, was part of its original collection. Hudson suspects it went missing within a few years of opening. Had fines been enforced, the overdue fee would now total about 28,000 Australian dollars (around $19,500), based on the three pence-per-week charge printed inside the cover.

However, borrower records from the 1870s no longer exist. “We have a missing link," Hudson said. “There’s nothing to show who last borrowed it." Library rules at the time required patrons to return books and settle debts before borrowing again, something Hudson jokes may explain why the book was never brought back. Other rules from the era included limiting loans to households with at least six members “known to be able to read" and refusing service to anyone in a “state of intoxication." Simmons said he has no idea why his ancestor never returned the book but wasn’t worried about any lingering penalties. “Just stick to your guns and say, ‘Do your worst,’" the 77-year-old joked. The book will now be preserved in the library’s local history collection.

“We’re not letting it go out again," Hudson said. “We don’t want to wait another 150 years." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Canberra, Australia First Published: August 01, 2026, 09:09 IST News world Man Returns Book To Library After 150 Years In Australia, Faces Fine Amounting To Almost Rs 19 Lakh Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...