122-Year-Old Message in a Bottle Discovered in Tasmanian Lighthouse

A painter discovered a 122-year-old message in a bottle inside the wall of a lighthouse at Cape Bruny, Tasmania. The bottle contained a handwritten letter detailing upgrades made to the lighthouse in 1903.

Brian Burford, the painter who made the discovery, was carrying out restoration work at the top of the lighthouse when he found the bottle. According to Annita Waghorn, Heritage Management Officer for Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service, Burford was working on areas with corrosion when he noticed something shining.

The letter was signed by J.R. Meech, inspector of the Marine Board of Hobart, and detailed the addition of a staircase, flooring, the lantern room, and the lens to the lighthouse. Recovering the bottle was difficult as it was sealed with a cork covered in pitch. Conservators from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery assisted in decoding the message, which will be put on public display.