00:00Hidden in a paddock near Lake George, there's a monument that wouldn't look out of place in ancient Egypt.
00:06This is Cooper's Vault, an extraordinary 19th century structure on Willaroo Station.
00:13Standing around 5 metres tall, it's topped with an urn and curious figures.
00:19But the real surprise lies at ground level, where a long passage leads beneath the pyramid to a sealed underground
00:28chamber.
00:28However, Indiana Jones, eat your heart out.
00:32The monument honours Francis Cooper from one of the European pioneering families of the Lake George district, who died in
00:41Sydney in 1868.
00:43But beyond that, the story becomes a bit murky.
00:47Was Francis brought back here for burial? We simply don't know.
00:52Other Cooper family members may also be interred inside, although surviving records offer no clear answers.
01:01In fact, one Canberra historian questioned whether the structure was ever intended to contain human remains, suggesting it might have
01:09been built purely as an elaborate memorial.
01:12The pyramid's design may reflect a 19th century fascination with ancient Egypt, known as Egyptomania.
01:23This trend influenced everything from architecture to cemetery monuments, with pyramid-shaped structures such as this one providing an imposing
01:32way to commemorate the dead.
01:35Today, with the chamber still sealed, the Lake George pyramid reminds us that even in our own backyard, history can
01:46leave us with more questions than answers.
