This lead sealing capsule was recovered from the tragic wreck of the sailing ship ‘Loch Ard’. It may have once been on a bottle amongst the ship's cargo, its provisions or the passengers’ personal luggage. It is now part of the John Chance collection. Bottles in the early 19th century were handmade. They were not necessarily uniform in size or shape, so sealing was not always successful. If the bottles were stored they often became contaminated by rats and mice breaking the cork or wax seals, or by insects attracted to the contents if the seal on the bottle leaked. Lead sealing capsules were used from 1843 to overcome this problem. The lead was heated until it was malleable, then moulded by hand to fit over the sealed bottle’s mouth and neck. This was more successful if wire was also used under the capsule for added security (similar to modern champagne bottles). The capsule couldn’t be re-fitted so it was discarded after the bottle was opened. Capsule designs from about 1862 used tin-plated lead foil and often had the inscriptions and trademarks of the content makers on them. Eventually it was found that the lead was toxic. The lead was replaced by tin, aluminium, and later plastic. Today’s home brewers can buy readymade plastic capsules that fit over the bottle then twist to lock it firmly into place and can be re-used. Digs at archaeological sites often reveal lead sealing capsules. These are collected and catalogued. The information gathered from inscriptions, makers’ marks, logos and descriptions of the bottle contents has provided valuable insights into the history and the dating of other items on the sites. This lead sealing capsule was made to seal a handmade glass bottle and is historically significant for representing its invention to solve a preservation and integrity issue with bottle seals in the mid-to-late 19th century. Its design has evolved and is still in use today. This sealing capsule is representative of their historical use of capsules as a tool for dating and interpreting archaeological sites around the world. The sealing capsule is also significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver from the wreck of the Loch Ard in the 1960s-70s. Items that come from several wrecks along Victoria's coast have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. The sealing capsule is also significant for being connected to the wreck of the Loch Ard (1873-1878), which is historically significant to both Victoria and Australia. The loss of the ship has been described as one of the ‘worst shipwreck tragedies’ and is well known in Victoria for the tragic death of 52 out of the 54 lives on board. The Loch Ard wreck's historical significance as a large international passenger and cargo clipper ship has been recognised and it is now registered on the Victorian Heritage Database, VHR S417. The wreck site is labelled as ‘one of Victoria’s most spectacular diving sites’ and the area is a popular tourist site. It is part of Victoria’s Underwater Shipwreck Discovery Trail.Bottle sealing capsule, cylindrical with thin, round top separated from thicker body (taped in place and fragile). Made from grey-white lead, uneven in thickness and shape. Remnants of a thick substance are inside the capsule.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, john chance, loch ard, bottle seal, bottle capsule, handmade bottle, antique bottle, sealing capsule, lead capsule, bottle closure, bottle foil, bottle preservation, bottle finish

Sealing time capsule at the Rutherglen Showgrounds - Ewart Henderson, John Williams, Don NashColour photograph of several men, with the assistance of some children, fixing stone cap into place on a stone cairn.On back of photo: "Sealing the time capsule in cairn 23-11-80. Ewart, John & Don Rutherglen Showgrounds"time capsule, rutherglen showgrounds, cairn, monuments, ewart henderson, john williams, don nash

Colour photograph of a group of people around a stone cairn, one of the men applying sealant to the top.On back of photo: "Don Nash sealing time capsule in cairn at Rutherglen Showgrounds 23-11-80"time capsule, rutherglen showgrounds, cairn, monuments, don nash

Finishing touches of sealing the time capsule into the cairn at Rutherglen Showgrounds.Colour photograph of several men finishing the sealing of the capstone to a stone cairn.On back of photo: "Don Nash & Ewart Henderson. Time capsule Rutherglen Showgrounds 23-11-80"rutherglen showgrounds, time capsule, cairn, monuments, don nash, ewart henderson

Miss Florence Iggsten had attended school and the Rutherglen Common School, and later was a teacher there. She was also one of the founding members of the Rutherglen Historical Society. This photo was taken on the occasion of the erection of the cairn, with its time capsule, at the Rutherglen Showgrounds in 1980.Colour photograph of several women examining a book at the Rutherglen Showgrounds, on the occasion of the sealing of the time capsule.On back of photo: "Miss Iggsten. Rutherglen Showgrounds 23-11-80"rutherglen showgrounds, time capsule, cairn, monuments, florence iggsten