Bulletin role in forgotten time capsule which will be opened after nearly 40 years underground

A MYSTERIOUS time capsule hidden in the depths of the Gold Coast City Council’s Evandale headquarters for nearly 40 years is set to be dug up.

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A MYSTERIOUS time capsule hidden in the depths of Gold Coast City Council’s Evandale headquarters for nearly 40 years is set to be dug up.

The capsule was placed in the foyer on September 11, 1976 by “Minister for Everything” Russ Hinze with the intention it would be dug up and opened 50 years later.

But the demolition of the headquarters to make way for the $37.5 million cultural precinct’s first stage later this year means it will be exhumed earlier than expected.

The capsule is under the foyer of the Evandale building which will be among the first pieces of infrastructure removed, to be replaced by a 15-storey “arts tower”.

Among those keen to be there for its opening is one of the 1500 people who witnessed its original sealing: Norm Rix.

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Mr Rix, an alderman on the old Gold Coast Council, is thought to be the last surviving member of the council during the period ­Evandale was constructed.

He said the capsule was a reminder of a different era.

“It was a happy occasion and everyone had their suits on for the day when Russ Hinze arrived to conduct the ceremony,” he said.

“Sir Bruce Small had just become the mayor again at the time and I remember we watched Hinze put the capsule on a cable and lower it into the ground before the plaque was put in place.

“It should be really interesting to see it now after all this time.”

A list of contents was thought lost to history and entirely unknown except for one – a copy of the Gold Coast Bulletin from the day it was placed in the ground.

However the Bulletin can reveal the lead capsule contains documents showing the Gold Coast in the mid-1970s.

Among them are brochures, films, statistics, and posters as well as several editions of the Bulletin.

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Mayor Tom Tate did not arrive on the Gold Coast until 15 years after the capsule was buried and said he was looking forward to reviewing it.

“I think it is fantastic and we should take a leaf out of their 1976 book,” he said.

“All the documentation we are doing right now should be placed in a capsule to be interred as part of stage one so future generations can dig it up.”

Demolition of the existing council headquarters is ­expected to begin before the end of the year, with construction of the precinct to start in early 2016.

It is planned that the precinct will open in early 2018 and be a major Commonwealth Games venue.

Coverage of the international event is likely to be screened to the public from the “Splash” – an outdoor entertainment venue.