Australian Couple Finds 132 Year-Old Message in a Bottle According to 9 News in Australia, Kym and Tonya Illman found the bottle near Wedge Island. It just looked like a lovely old bottle, so I picked it up thinking it might look good in my bookcase. The couple was able to determine that the note, written in German, was written on June 12 of an unknown year. It took them a week to puzzle out that the bottle was thrown from a German in 1889, in an attempt to understand ocean currents. The authenticity of the letter and its age was then confirmed by the West Australia Maritime Museum. This has been the most remarkable events in my life. To think that this bottle has not been touched for nearly 132 years and is in perfect condition, despite the elements. I’m still shaking. The message found by the Illman's is now the oldest message in a bottle. The previous record holder was 108 years old, according to 9 News.