When retiree Rod Lavender began clearing out the Fingal Bay home he had shared with his wife Margaret of 30 years he uncovered a family antique.
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Protected in a thick display folder was an original copy of The Sydney Morning Herald dated Saturday, November 7, 1874, priced twopence.
"For some years Margaret and I had been planning to move into Harbourside Haven at Shoal Bay to be closer to medical facilities," the 75-year-old said.
"We lost Margaret in January so I decided to fast-track my move to Harbourside and it was while I was cleaning out the home that I re-discovered the 145-year-old newspaper which was surprisingly in good condition.
"I contacted the Sydney Morning Herald but they weren't interested."
Mr Lavender said that the historical journal had belonged to a family member who passed away three years ago. "Unfortunately, we never found out the story behind it," he said.
The 12-page broadsheet, marked No. 11,380 Vol. LXX, features on its front page Notices, Births, Marriages, Deaths, Shipping news, Persons Advertised for, Volunteer Notices and Lost & Found.
Inside the paper, letters feature prominently along with editorials, finance, real estate, religious announcements, shares, education, trades, work available and wanted, public notices, NSW parliament news, national and overseas news, weather and the following Central Police Court case:
"Before the Police Magistrate, fourteen persons were fined for drunkenness or for disorderly conduct. George Bennet was fined 20s. for assaulting police constable Macintosh who took him into custody," the report read.
"John Egar, charged with having endangered public safety by wantonly throwing stones in Sussex St, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay 10s [shillings] or to be imprisoned four days.
"Elizabeth Gahl was charged with being an habitual drunkard and with three certificates of conviction within 12 months, and was imprisoned three months.
"Henry Cates, John Kilpen and Mathew Finn, from 15 to 17 years, were prosecuted by Charles Hunter, bootmaker, for absenting themselves from their indented services and being found guilty were severely sentenced to be imprisoned in solitary cell in Darlinghurst for three days."
The protective binder was stamped with a certificate of authenticity from Paper World, who told the Examiner that such papers were incredibly rare.
"However, as all of the libraries have digitised their historic newspapers, there's not much use for these beautiful old papers," the Paper World spokesperson said.
"We'd rather they go to customers that might love and appreciate them, rather than sitting in our warehouse. And it is the entire 12 pages, those newspapers were rather thin, and most were between 8-18 pages for a few decades there."
The newspaper has been handed on to the Port Stephens Historical Society, who plan to have it on display for all the public to see at their rooms in the Tomaree Library building.
Society members Jan and Dennis Corr said they were excited to take possession of the slice of history and showcase it to the public.
"It is interesting to read the personal and public messages and the anecdotes covering issues from so far back. It will certainly make a valuable addition to our collection," Mr Corr said.
The society rooms are open from Tuesday to Friday every week, between 10am and 1pm or can be accessed by arrangement. Contact 0421 773 921.