A story four decades in the making, the official opening of Telstra’s 1985 time capsule brought together the original children who helped create it.
Back in 1985, ten Aussie kids won a radio competition that would land them a very unique opportunity: the chance to create a time capsule with Telecom (now Telstra) that wouldn’t be opened for forty years. The time capsule was originally placed at Telstra’s offices in Pirie Street, Adelaide but was moved a few years ago to our new office at 60 King William Street, where it was tucked away safely ahead of the opening this year.
Fast forward to July 1st 2025 and it’s time to crack the time capsule open and finally unveil what’s inside. But what was the journey that brought the Time Capsule Ten back together?
When we set out to find the original Time Capsule Ten, we knew it would take a bit of Aussie spirit - and the response didn’t disappoint.
In April this year, we launched a nationwide callout to track down the participants, with the original group photo shared far and wide on social media, in news bulletins, and across online outlets. Before long, Australians everywhere were pitching in.
People helped by sharing our posts, tagging friends and family, emailing through tips, and keeping an eye out in their own communities. Thanks to the support of everyday Aussies and media outlets across the country, the story gained momentum and, one by one, all ten of the original kids came forward.
A few weeks ago, in preparation for the time capsule opening, the ten original participants were reunited at Telstra’s Adelaide office to reminisce about the original day and to recreate the iconic group photo from 1985. Joining them was Jill Mitchell, a former Telecom staffer who also featured in the original photo.
The time capsule was officially opened today with the original “kids” on hand to unpack the four-decade-old relics. What was sealed away for 40 years was finally revealed, including an Adelaide Advertiser newspaper marking the moment and handwritten letters and cards from each child.
Joined by the time capsule “kids” and their families, our Telstra team shared the group’s excitement, celebrating the milestones made in the communications industry since 1985 as the nostalgic reveal brought the local community together once again.
“I never forgot about the time capsule, it was always in the back of my mind – every birthday I thought I’m one year closer to opening the time capsule,” said Vicki Nuske, Time Capsule Ten.
“If we look back to 1 July 1985, mobile phones weren’t a thing, the internet was at its absolute infancy. I remember having an Atari game console at some stage. Now, we’ve got electric cars, mobile phones, and the way we communicate with social media is huge. You couldn’t have even thought social media would be a thing back then.
I can’t wait to see what we put in there. It’s fantastic we’re all here again and can all catch up.” said David Kyriacou, Time Capsule Ten.
The time capsule is more than just a blast from the past, it’s a reminder of how far technology has come and how Telstra has evolved alongside it, helping Australians stay connected through every chapter of change.
When the Time Capsule Ten buried their letters and keepsakes, most of us were still spinning the rotary dial on our family landline, the internet hadn’t made its way into Aussie homes, fax machines were readily used for sending documents, and VCRs and cassette tapes were keeping us entertained. Fast forward forty years, and we live in a world where we can stream, share, connect and work from just about anywhere.
Today, we’re stepping into a new era powered by AI and satellite technology, and the ever-growing demand for smarter, faster, and more sustainable ways to stay connected. The journey from 1985 to 2025 shows the incredible pace of innovation, and it’s exciting to imagine what the next forty years will bring.
