Capturing times from long ago & the present

Documents from a 1993 time capsule were unveiled over the weekend, 27 years after it was buried at the Quindalup boat ramp.

The time capsule was originally buried by the Yelverton family, whose ancestors built the Quindalup Jetty for the Yelverton Timber Company in 1854, and erected the first steam sawmill at Quindalup.

The unveiling was headed by the Dunsborough Historical Society, which aims to preserve memories of early residents and to commemorate old buildings and historical events.

Society chair Margaret Baxter addressed the gathering, saying she wished she had known how perishable family history was.

“It disappears with time, as memories fade and as loved ones pass on. I wish I’d known that the most important aspect of family history is preserving a record of the present for the future,” she said.

The 1993 time capsule was opened on Saturday to reveal newspapers, magazines featuring Diana, Princess of Wales, money and other important documents from June 5, 27 years ago.

A new time capsule for 2020 was also filled up, with the people in attendance placing newspapers, pictures and other items inside to remember the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be opened in 2045.