A Facebook request for a locksmith has sparked a social media storm for one Corrimal family with a mystery on its hands.
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Eight years ago, shortly after moving into their 1960s-era home, the Mayo family noticed an odd door in their downstairs laundry.
It was just a thin bit of plywood covering a rectangular protrusion from the rear wall of the old, low-ceilinged room.
When they opened the door they found a safe had been cemented into the building.
"We never had enough curiosity to open it - I don't know why," Crayg Mayo said.
They used the spot as a stand for the dryer.
Eight years on, the house is scheduled to be demolished, and something had to be done with the safe.
Mr Mayo posted a request for a locksmith to Illawarra Buy and Sell on Facebook, and was overwhelmed by the response.
"I just wanted a good locksmith - I can't believe the attention," Mr Mayo said.
"People think we're crazy for not opening it sooner, they want us to film and live-stream the opening.
"We really don't know what might be in it, and locksmiths had told us previously it would cost hundreds of dollars and be more trouble than it's worth."
After doing some research Mr Mayo said he found out the safe was a Thomas Milner and Son model VINT-660.
The company was founded by Thomas Milner in 1814, became known as Thomas Milner and Son in 1830, and in 1955 merged with another safe-making company to become Chatwood-Milner, before it was bought out by Chubb in 1963.
It is not known when the safe in the Mayo home was made, but it is likely it was before 1955.
The exact age of their home is also unknown, however, Wollongong City Council aerial maps from 1948-51 show no buildings on the site.
Another aerial map dated 1977 shows a home on the same site as the Mayo home.
It is possible the safe is older than the home. It may have been installed by the original owner, or a subsequent owner. The property has changed hands several times in the past few decades according to Pricefinder data; in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and finally to the Mayo family in 2013.
Mr Mayo said a relative of a former owner had reached out and confirmed they remembered the small door in the laundry, but had not known what was behind it.
Someone else speculated that the safe was similar in appearance to one that housed jewellery in a Corrimal warehouse.
It appears at some point someone has tried to open the safe by drilling through one side. Mr Mayo has not made any similar attempts as he understands it may be lined with asbestos.
Mr Mayo hopes to have the safe opened by a professional in coming days.
"We might get it restored and have it in the new house as a throwback to the old house," he said.
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