Ned Kelley

puzzle boxsequential discovery puzzle boxtake apart puzzleburr

Aug 3

Such is Life

It’s the time of year again when people of a puzzling persuasion gravitate together, in an undisclosed location somewhere on the planet, to ponder the perplexing, trade stories, exchange gifts, award achievements, perhaps imbibe, incrementally, and generally celebrate the shared joy of being baffled. A few years back I crafted a cocktail to toast the incredible “Big Ben” puzzle from Brian Young, Juno and John Moores, and posted it ahead of that year’s event. The puzzle went on to win the Jury Grand Prize award, and at a subsequent gathering a group of friends celebrated with Brian by making a round of my cocktails. It has since become my habit to present a puzzle produced by Brian, aka Mr. Puzzle himself, on these annual occasions.

Brian and his wife Sue have run a successful international puzzle business from their home store in Queensland Australia for over twenty five years, creating new and complex designs of Brian’s own invention and sourcing hard to get items from around the world. Their commitment and passion to this art form and hobby have inspired many and benefitted all, and they are integrally tied to the annual International Puzzle Party celebration. Brian created the puzzle trophy (and puzzle stand) for the inaugural Nob Yoshigahara Puzzle Design Competition, now in its nineteenth year. He has designed innumerable puzzles for the exchange event, and has garnered a few design competition awards along the way.

Ned Kelley by Brian Young

Some of Brian’s most sought after work is from his limited edition series, which he began at the beginning, in 1993, when he would craft only six of each puzzle. Luckily he now makes many more of each limited series, but he no longer produces one every year. Back around the year 2000, Brian relates that he attended a lecture by Gary Foshee, demonstrating his Tower Treasure puzzle, and he was smitten with the idea of making his own sequential discovery puzzles. He began to develop the ideas for his store’s Tenth Anniversary puzzle, which would celebrate a bit of history from his homeland and incorporate sequential discovery into the design. The theme of a puzzle is very important to Brian, and he tries to include tools and even movements that tell the story. For this story, he chose the infamous tale of Ned Kelley, the notorious Australian bushranger and outlaw wanted for a series of police murders in the late 1800s. Kelley and his gang’s evasion of police capture for over two years ended in a famous gun battle in which the outlaws wore makeshift iron suits and helmets which have become iconic. Kelley was captured and hanged, but the story continued into the macabre. Kelley’s body was illegally dissected for medical science, and his head was sawed off. At some point, his skull disappeared. His bones were exhumed around 1929, and what was thought to be his skull was placed on display at the old Melbourne Jail, from where it would be stolen in 1978. Modern DNA testing of the skull, recovered again in 2009, proved it was never truly Kelley’s skull, which remains missing to this day.

Stick 'em up!

Ned Kelley the puzzle was made from Queensland Blackbean, a beautiful wood indigenous to eastern Australia. Ned stands tall (290mm) in his custom armor, bearing a pistol in each hand. His body is based on a classic Kumiki style Japanese interlocking cube puzzle composed entirely of unique pieces, with expanding secrets and mechanisms from there on. There are ten puzzling steps and multiple tools to decipher for the ultimate goal of finding Kelley’s skull. The entire puzzle will disassemble along the way as well. The puzzle tells the story of Kelley’s last stand, with a historically accurate “re-enactment” required to progress. Details from the final battle are provided (clues!) on an included certificate that comes with each puzzle. It’s a clever and fun touch that Brian has added, building certain movements into the solution which mimic the true story.

It was such a special achievement that the puzzle had its official launch at an art gallery, the “Art and Soul Gallery”, owned by a friend of Brian and Sue’s. The exhibit was officiated by the Minister for Primary Industries and Rural Communities, Henry Palaszczuk, whose daughter is currently the Queensland Premier (like a US State Governor). Quite an auspicious debut, and thanks to Sue Young for the wonderful history.

End of the Road by Chris McMillian

Here’s a toast to Ned Kelley, a legendary puzzle from one of the greats. It deserves a drink from one of the greats as well, legendary barman Chris McMillian. Chris is a well-known New Orleans icon who co-founded the Museum of the American Cocktail, and has led many well regarded bar programs in his home city. Imbibe magazine, the industry trade journal, named him one of the 25 most influential cocktail personalities of the past century. He is famous for his historical knowledge and love of story-telling, and is often described as an antebellum bartender, full of tradition steeped in the past.

This pistol packs a punch

He contributed one of his creations to a slim volume of exquisite cocktails, produced by two New Orleans bartender friends named Maks Pazuniak and Kirk Estopinal in 2009. The little book, “Beta Cocktails” (originally “Rogue Cocktails”) is something of an underground cult classic among industry folk, and it’s full of now famous recipes from some of the best known cocktail personalities. McMillian’s “End of the Road” cocktail is just the sort of drink you would expect from the past, a simple equal parts combination of distinctive spirits that merge into something truly unique. The cocktail balances smoky Laphroaig scotch with bitter Campari and wildly herbal Chartreuse. It’s an unlikely blend with an unlikely ratio but wouldn’t you know, it’s perfectly balanced and delicious. It’s a sophisticated sipper, a gentleman’s nightcap, and features three ingredients easily found in most bars. Perhaps even found somewhere in the world, where puzzlers ponder, at the end of the road. Cheers friends.