Half a century of history was unearthed last week in Narrandera when a Time Capsule saw the first light of day since it was buried 50 years ago outside the Parkside Cottage Museum.

The Narrandera community of 1976 had placed objects relevant to that era and left them behind, sealed in the capsule.

However, on a day that witnessed the museum’s largest-ever attendance, which was privileged to be part of the historic day, an unwelcome surprise was discovered inside the vessel upon its opening.

Narrandera Shire Mayor Neville Kschenka welcomed the large crowd and the Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, to declare the event officially open.

Council workmen then lifted off the stone slab and cut the steel box open, then “things went very bad”.

Unfortunately, a small bottle of champagne had been placed inside the box and had emptied over time, causing an acidic environment, which in turn, rusted a hole in the steel box, allowing water to enter.

As a result, about 75 per cent of the capsule’s contents were either destroyed or badly damaged.

The museum members are drying out what was salvageable and plan to post photos after it has been processed.

Although time (and a little water) took its toll on many of the documents, it was incredible to see a handful of letters and items survive, including an old vinyl record the museum members had the chance to spin for the first time this century.

The surviving artefacts will be carefully catalogued and preserved at the museum, with some even returning to the original contributors or their families.