Puzzles

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Christmas Card - 'A Happy Christmas to You', from Rupert to Elsie, Dec 1899

This Christmas card is part of a collection of paper-based ephemera relating to the life of Miss Elsie Storie, a middle-class Melbourne woman who was born around 1895, lived through both wars, and remained in Melbourne all her life.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)

Pendle Hall Dolls House

Pendle Hall is a 21-room, fully-furnished dolls' house, representing a typical English country house of the Georgian period that would have been built around 1740. It was designed and decorated by Felicity Clemons over a forty year period, and each piece of furniture and fixture was handmade by her. Pendle Hall can be found in the Mini Mega Model Museum exhibition at Melbourne Museum.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Erythrite

Erythrite is a distinctively purpleish-pink mineral. It gets its name from the Greek "erythros" meaning red because of its colour.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Bookplate 8 from ‘A Monograph of the Ramphastidae or Family of Toucans’ (2nd ed.), by John Gould (1854.)

John Gould’s lithographs are famous for their ornithological precision portrayed with incredible beauty. The resplendent toucan (ramphastos tucanus cuvieri) is inquisitive, yet confident, perched on a branch surveying its surrounds. This print is available to purchase online from the Museums Victoria Store.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Tarbosaurus Bataar in Dinosaur Walk

Located in our much loved Dinosaur Walk, this Tarbosaurus Bataar is a large carnivorous theropod dinosaur from Central Asia and nearly as large as T. rex.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Royal Exhibition Building

Built in 1879 to host Victoria's first international exhibition, the Royal Exhibition Building has played a significant role in the political, cultural, economic and social history of Australia.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Phar Lap

The Melbourne Museum has been the home of Phar Lap, since his mounted hide first went on permanent display in January 1933. He immediately became one of the museum's most popular exhibits and has continued to draw the fascination of visitors over the decades since, becoming one of the most significant historical icons in any Australian Museum.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Gold nugget

A gold nugget specimen found in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

John Gould print: Western Grey Kangaroo, Macropus fuliginosus (formally known as Macropus ocydromus)

The Bird Man', Englishman John Gould was an apprenticed gardener who became a taxidermist, natural history dealer, accomplished author and ornithologist. A prolific writer, he published numerous scientific articles and 43 volumes of natural history. These were lavishly illustrated with 3100 hand-coloured lithographs. Gould's wife, Elizabeth, prepared the initial sketches and then transferred them to stone engravings. She also completed the initial hand-colourings.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Invitation - Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, Melbourne, 1901

Framed coloured invitation to Mr Richard Frederich Toutcher M.L.A. and Mrs Toutcher to witness the opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth by the Prime Minister Edmund Barton on 9 May 1901.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)
 

Vase - Glass, Compagnia Venezia-Murano, Venice, Italy, circa 1880

Blown-glass vase of cobalt blue glass from the John Twycross Melbourne International Exhibitions Collection. A remarkable snapshot of late 19th century taste and style, the collection includes examples of decorative, functional, and novelty objects and works of art exhibited in the Austro-Hungarian, British, German, Italian, Japanese, British Indian, and Minor Courts.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)

 

Yellow Crested Weedfish

Photograph: Julian Finn

This image of a Yellow Crested Weedfish, Cristiceps aurantiacus was taken during underwater photography for the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability's 2016 State of the Bays report. Museums Victoria's Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates, Dr Julian Finn encountered this cute little fish hiding among the fronds of a dislodged piece of sea weed, washing back and forth in the ocean swell beneath Flinders Pier in Western Port. The distinctive crest of the Yellow Crested Weedfish is formed by the front portion of the dorsal fin that protrudes in front of the fish's eyes and is separate to the longer second dorsal fin that runs along the fish’s body. Unusual among fishes, the Yellow Crested Weedfish has internal fertilisation, with females giving birth to live young.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)

Australian Fur-seals

Photograph: Julian Finn

This image of a bob of Australian Fur-seals, Arctocephalus pusillus was taken during filming of Underwater Backyard, an immersive vertical dome projection exhibited at Scienceworks in 2014 . These seals are a group of bachelor males that haul out (or rest) on a special platform erected by Parks Victoria in the South Channel of Port Phillip. Snorkelers and SCUBA divers regularly visit this area to swim with the seals but are warned to keep their distance, as the seals may become aggressive if approached too closely. The immersive footage from Underwater Backyard records the state of Port Phillip in 2014 and provides a beautiful watching experience for museum visitors and curious viewers.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)

Ornate Cowfish

Photograph: Julian Finn

Dr Julian Finn, Senior Curator of Marine Invertebrates still remembers taking this image of a Ornate Cowfish, Aracana ornata. "I was diving on the shallow seagrass beds off Flinders Pier on a sunny Autumn day (taking images for the Marine Life exhibition), when I chanced upon this cute little fish. Excitedly I swam up behind it and to my complete surprise it immediately spun 180 degrees and stared me down. On realising that this little fish had the courage of a Great White Shark, I tried this manoeuvre again. With my camera ready, I was able to snap this shot". This image also features on the cover of Museums Victoria Field Guide: Introduction to Marine Life which is available from the Museums Victoria store.

Easy (10 pieces) | Medium (60 pieces) | Hard (200 pieces)

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