geo Sudoku Multi-Cache

Please allow at least 1 1/2-2 hours to complete this cache, which is part of a slow cache series.

I'd recommend printing several copies of the Sudoku puzzle itself, at least one per team member, and solve using a pencil/eraser.

Instructions
Three tasks must be undertaken and twenty extra given numbers added to the grid before the puzzle can be solved, upon which the final cache location will be revealed.

Write the given numbers into the grid using a pen so that you won't erase them by mistake while completing the puzzle.

Cells in the puzzle are identified as (a1) through (i9). For example, the centre cell (e5) contains the number [7].

Task One
Navigate to the first waypoint S37 01.120 E144 14.373, which is located on the road between Harcourt and Castlemaine.

On the nearby roadside you will observe a small and insignificant relic of a bygone era, an object representing a location from a time when the laws of speed and distance were more closely linked to their Roman origins than they are today. Upon this particular object you will observe some ancient markings whose meaning may be obscure to the younger generation, nevertheless, those with keen eyesight should be able to make out two digits beneath a single letter.

While pondering the meaning of the letter (bragging rights go to the first team member to correctly identify the full name of the entity that it represents), it can now be revealed that only one younger sibling to this rare and ancient artifact remains in existence in this area. (An older sibling, located at S37 00.385 E144 14.896 will shortly be annexed by the new calder highway duplication when the road is realigned 40 metres to the West to meet a new on-ramp/overpass. The artifact is not expected to survive this process).

Your goal in this first task is to navigate to the final sibling in the series and retrieve the two digits engraved upon it.

The artifact that you seek is in plain view and can easily be seen without leaving your vehicle, regardless of the season. As this is an endangered species, there are no other surviving siblings except for those identified here, so a cunning plan must be devised to reveal each of the object's potential locations, all of which occur somewhere along the roadside between the first and second waypoints.

After locating the artifact and the digits engraved upon it [ab], place each digit into the puzzle at cells

• (a1) = [a]
• (i9) = [b]

Task Two
Navigate to the second waypoint S37 03.868 E144 13.030 and dismount from your vehicle. This task consists of two sub-tasks, and each of which will be completed on foot.

The items you seek are located no more than one block in any direction from the current location, and can be seen from the footpath.

• Subtask 2a - Telegraph Station
  The oldest surviving telegraph station in Australia is located quite close to your present position. It was purpose built to accommodate the first telegraphic messages to the Mount Alexander Goldfields, and remained in service until the opening of the present Post Office in 1875.

  Now owned by the Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association, who were founded in 1880 and currently have about 100 members and friends, it houses a major collection of telegraph and telephone memorabilia, together with valuable historical archives and photographs of the district.

  The Association meet on the second Thursday of each month in the old telegraph building at 7:30pm.

  The station was opened on 1st January in the year [abcd]. Place each digit of the year into the puzzle at cells

  • (d7) = [a]
  • (a9) = [b]
  • (c6) = [c]
  • (c4) = [d]
• 
  
• Subtask 2b - Victoria's 27th Premier
  Several Victorian premiers hailed from Castlemaine, and the 27th had his image immortalised in a bronze bust in 1929 by the sculptor Paul Raphael Montford (who designed the sculptures on the Shrine of Remembrance).

  First, find the senator's bust to identify his surname (his given names were Harry Sutherland Wightman).

  Now that you know his full name, your next task is to locate a memorial stone laid by the honorable premier on [ab] May 1920.

  Classified by the National Trust of Victoria, this building is much older and has had a much more varied history than the plaque (and its present occupant) suggests. A circular plaque above the door provides more information.

  Place each digit of the day into the puzzle at cells

  • (f6) = [a]
  • (f4) = [b]
  
  Hint: The building that you seek is in the main street, and the stone will require very sharp eyes to read, perhaps even an etching to determine the number.

Task Three
Navigate to the third waypoint S37 03.939 E144 13.015 and dismount from your vehicle. This series of subtasks will also be completed on foot.

The items you seek are located no more than one block in any direction from the current location, and can be seen from the footpath.

• Subtask 3a - Victoria's 17th Premier
  Victoria's 17th Premier emigrated from Northumberland to seek his fortune on the goldfields, eventually settling in Chewton. The honorable Sir James Brown Patterson, KCMG (Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George) was still an MP when he passed away from influenza, and the item that you seek was erected in memory of his 25 years of service to the district. Vandalised long ago, this object no longer provides any useful service to the community.

  Upon this item you will find the date of his passing, October 30th [abc5]. Place each digit of the year into the puzzle at cells

  • (g3) = [a]
  • (d3) = [b]
  • (f3) = [c]
• 
  
• Subtask 3b - Lest We Forget
  Find an object bearing the following inscription.

  One Flag
  One Nation
  One Destiny

  Upon this object find the year of its erection, [1a0b]. Place each digit of the year into the puzzle at cells

  • (b4) = [a]
  • (i3) = [b]
• 
  
• Subtask 3c - Captain John Hepburn
  After ill fortune struck Hepburn's steam ship The Ceres, which was grounded off the NSW coast and sunk, Captain John Hepburn, a Master mariner, joined a pastoral business in a successful venture to overland cattle to Port Phillip.

  Often mistakenly described as this district's first settler, Hepburn discovered the first mineral springs in the Macedon region in 1836. More mineral springs were discovered soon after in Daylesford, and there are now 72 known mineral springs in various towns through out the region.

  The town of Hepburn Springs and Hepburn Shire are named in his honour.

  After the successful cattle venture, Hepburn became partners with William Coghill in a plan to overland 1400 ewes, 50 rams and 200 wethers from Braidwood NSW to central Victoria.

  A small plaque indicates the date upon which Hepburn and Coghill camped at what is now the site of the Castlemaine Church of England grounds.

  Locate this plaque and the date upon it, [1a]th April [1bcd]. Place each digit of the day and year into the puzzle at cells

  • (h6) = [a]
  • (h4) = [b]
  • (a7) = [c]
  • (g7) = [d]
• 
  
• Subtask 3d - Trophies of War
  Locate a plaque containing the following information about some nearby military objects.
  
  

  W.W.1. War Trophies 19[a]0 German Guns 100mm K 04/1[b] No [c]59 Field Artillery 150mm Howitzer Short Range

  Place each digit of the year and the object's Model/ID number into the puzzle at cells

  • (c7) = [a]
  • (a3) = [b]
  • (f9) = [c]

Solving the Puzzle
You now have enough information to solve the Sudoku puzzle.

The puzzle's skill level is rated as intermediate, and should take around 20 minutes to complete, but may take much longer. There is only one solution.

Before starting on the puzzle, you can verify that each of the given numbers have been placed correctly by comparing the sum of the digits across each row and down each column to the following values.

Locating the Cache
To locate the cache, extract the following digits from the solved puzzle

• a = (e1)
• b = (e2)
• c = (c2)
• d = (c8)
• e = (h8)
• f = (b8)

Here you will find yourself in a secluded location very close to a large structure used in the levitation of mechanical devices over a multiplicity of natural and man-made obstacles.

You are looking for a non-traditional cache, just large enough to hold a regular log book and pen, which is located somewhere directly beneath this structure.

Due to its small size, please do not leave any swaps or cards.