My iPhoto library was erased, can I get it back or find out when it was erased?

We have been away for abou six weeks and found that my iPhoto library is now empty. There were thousands of photos. The library file is still in the same space but it is empty. The last time machine backup was in August, which would have been fine, but the external HDD has failed and we can not recover the backups.
Assuming there is little to no chance of resurrecting the actual library, is there a way someone can look into the OS and find out when the library went from GB in size to kb? If I can pinpoint the date it may have happened it will be easier to narrow down as something we have done or the people who were looking after our house while we were away.

Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
2 - run Option #4 to rebuild the database.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button and select the library you want to add in the selection window..
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

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My iPhoto library was erased, can I get it back or find out when it was erased?

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