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24 April 2026

☀️ Mystery sculptor

A French artist that Paris has never heard of, plus a crime wave targeting venues ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Morning Post

Melbourne

Saturday, 25 April 2026  •  Issue #663

☀️25°/13°
Sunny and pleasant
☀️ UV 3.8  •  🌅 Sunset 5:40 PM
 

On this ANZAC Day, we pause to remember those who served. Lest we forget. Today: a Melbourne gallery's "acclaimed" artist nobody can trace, and organised crime finds a new target across the city's hospitality scene.

— Nathan, Editor

At a Glance

📰 Gallery sells work by French artist who may not exist

📍 Free Guided Garden Walks + 5 more events

🍳 Recipe of the Week: Lemon Coconut Slice

🕰️ On this day in 1915: Australian and New Zealand forces landed at Gallipoli in Turkey,...

Today's Melbourne

Gallery sells work by French artist who may not exist

A Melbourne gallery claims its sculptures come from a celebrated Parisian artist, but investigators can find no trace of him in France. The elaborate backstory appears fabricated.

via ABC Melbourne

Sydney hospitality mogul learns Melbourne plays by different rules

A billionaire restaurant owner with 80 venues is finding his brand doesn't guarantee entry into Melbourne's exclusive dining clubs. Local power brokers are making him wait.

via The Age🔒 paywall

Liquor warehouse torched as new syndicate targets hospitality

Police believe a fresh organised crime group is behind multiple attacks on Melbourne bars and restaurants, including an alcohol factory fire in Keysborough.

via 9News Melbourne

Around Australia

Family heritage adds weight to women's rugby test

Wallaroos player Piper Duck carries special meaning into today's match against New Zealand, honouring ancestors who served.

via ABC News

Energy projects divide regional Victoria ahead of election

Most landholders back renewables but say planning approvals ignore their concerns, turning the issue into electoral battleground.

via The Guardian Australia

Around the World

NATO responds to reports US may suspend Spain — Alliance says no mechanism exists to expel members after Pentagon email discussed punishing allies.

via BBC World

What’s On: Weekends Out 🌲

Today: ANZAC Day — Dawn services, remembrance. Respectful and solemn tone. Lest we forget.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Free Guided Garden Walks

Every day except Mondays

Expert-guided tours sharing plant and design stories through the gardens, no booking required.

Free
46 locations including Albert Park Lake, Princes Park, Maribyrnong

parkrun Melbourne

Every Saturday 8am

Free weekly 5km timed walk or run every Saturday morning, all fitness levels welcome.

Free
Macedon Ranges (day trip from Melbourne)

Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival

1 Apr – 30 Apr

Month-long celebration with autumn gardens, food trails, open studios and markets across the Ranges.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Punting on the Lake

1 Jan 2025 – 31 May

Glide around the Ornamental Lake in an elegant wooden punt with a professional guide.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Botanical Art Classes

21 Apr – 30 Jun

Watercolour, graphite and coloured pencil classes taught by practising botanical artists, all skill levels.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Forest Therapy at Royal Botanic Gardens

Every Sunday

Japanese forest bathing guided practice focused on stress reduction and wellbeing through mindful nature connection.

Got an event to share? Let us know →

Recipe of the Week

Every Saturday we share a recipe worth trying.

Lemon Coconut Slice

Serves Makes 16 pieces · 45 minutes plus cooling time

This tangy, sweet slice has been a morning tea favourite for generations. With its buttery base and zesty topping, it's sure to disappear quickly at your next get-together.

125g butter, softened, 1/2 cup caster sugar, 1 cup self-raising flour, 1/2 cup plain flour, 2 tbsp milk, 3 eggs, 1 cup caster sugar (extra), 1 1/2 cups desiccated coconut, Juice and zest of 2 lemons, 1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted, 20g butter, melted, 2-3 tbsp lemon juice

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 20cm x 30cm slice tin. Beat butter and sugar until pale, then fold through flours and milk. Press into tin and bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden.

2. Meanwhile, whisk eggs, extra caster sugar, coconut, lemon juice and zest together. Pour over the warm base.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes until topping is set and golden. The centre may still look slightly soft but will firm as it cools. Allow to cool completely in the tin.

4. For the icing, combine icing sugar, melted butter and enough lemon juice to make a spreadable consistency. Spread over cooled slice and allow to set before cutting into squares with a sharp knife.

📊 Today's Poll

Lemon slice or caramel slice at a morning tea?

Lemon sliceCaramel slice

Daily Brainteaser

🧩

What can fill a room but takes up no space?

Answer revealed at the bottom of today's edition.

Daily Games

💡 Today's Featured Game

Word Ladder

2 steps · ~2 min

VASE → PAST

Change one letter at a time · Par: 2 steps

Play Word Ladder →

Yesterday: 🧠 56 played  ·  💡 57 played  ·  ✏️ 47 played

🧠 Trivia · Australia · 7 Qs→
Which Australian animal is featured on the national coat of arms alongside...
✏️ Crossword · 5×5 Mini→
1 Across: Compass direction opposite to south

On This Day

Anniversary of

• Australian and New Zealand forces landed at Gallipoli in Turkey, beginning a campaign that would become central to both nations' identities. (1915)

• The Carnation Revolution in Portugal overthrew the Estado Novo regime, ending decades of dictatorship. (1974)

• Watson and Crick's paper describing the double helix structure of DNA was published in Nature. (1953)

• Israel completed its withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula, returning it to Egypt under the Camp David Accords. (1982)

🎂 Born on this day: National day of remembrance Anzac Day (1915), American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917), and American actor Al Pacino (1940).

Brainteaser Answer
Light.

One Last Smile

One Last Smile illustration

I've reached the age where 'getting lucky' means finding my reading glasses on the first try.

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