Mini Melbourne

In partnership with the Victorian Department of Education, we created 600,000m² of Melbourne’s city centre in Minecraft.

Any Minecraft user can download the Bedrock and Java versions of Mini Melbourne for free and start exploring.

The Minecraft: Education Edition (Minecraft: EE) versions of Mini Melbourne host a range of learning activities that teachers can share with their students.

Download the latest Mini Melbourne map (ZIP file)

How to install Mini Melbourne

download Mini Melbourne Java Edition
unzip the downloaded file to your desktop
copy the entire folder to your game save location
launch Minecraft 1.18.1+, the world should appear in your Worlds screen.

download Mini Melbourne
right-click the Mini Melbourne file
select "Open with" and choose other
select "Minecraft" or "Minecraft: Education Edition" from installed programs
If "Minecraft: Education Edition" is greyed out and not available to select, change the "Enable" dropdown at the bottom of the window from "Recommended Applications" to "All Applications"
log in to Minecraft, the map will be installed in the Worlds screen.

download Mini Melbourne
select "Open with" and choose other
select "Minecraft" or "Minecraft: Education Edition"
the map will import automatically and be selectable in the Worlds screen.

How do I know which version of Minecraft I have?

if your icon is a 3D block of grass, you have Java Edition
if your icon is a 3D bookcase on a green background, you have Minecraft: Education Edition
if your icon is a 2D block of grass, you have Bedrock Edition.

if your icon is a 3D bookcase on a green background, you have Minecraft: Education Edition
if your icon is a 3D block of grass, you have Java Edition.

you have Java Edition.

Archaeology Adventure

This is a multiplayer game based on excavations at historically significant sites that were cleared as part of the Metro Tunnel Project.

Introduce students to the principles of archaeology and the importance of investigating and preserving our heritage. This activity also reinforces teamwork, record keeping and problem-solving skills as students try to uncover as many artefacts as possible and come up with their interpretation of the previous usage of their site.

Resources for teachers and students

Download everything you need to run Archaeology Adventure with your class below.

This Minecraft world map is designed for use in Minecraft: Education, incorporating Metro Tunnel Archaeology Adventure, the first in a series of educational adventures created for Mini Melbourne.

Download the Archaeology Adventure map (ZIP, 9.0 MB)

This guide is designed to guide a teacher through the Archaeology Adventure, enabling educators to make the most of this rich resource and its curriculum-linked content. It is also complemented by a video guide.

Download the teacher guide (PDF, 3.4 MB)

This A3 map makes a great resource to keep track of students’ progress on the dig. It leaves space for teams to note what sites they have found and could be placed on the classroom wall along with Artefact Record Sheets, pictures they have taken and research on their finds.

Download the dig site map (PDF, 2.6 MB)

This A4 landscape record sheet is based on those used by real-life archaeologists, helping students to keep track of what they have found and where - and most importantly, how rare it is!

Download the artefact record sheet (PDF, 188.1 KB)

Use these slides to help you report your findings when playing Archaeology Adventure in Minecraft: Education.

Download the Student report slides PPTX, 1.9 MB

Resources for teachers

The below resources are what you will need to effectively run this activity in your classroom. Remember this can only be run in Minecraft: Education.

Download the teacher guide (PDF, 3.4 MB)

This PDF contains all Archaeology Adventure Artefact Cards and Site Cards for Primary students.

Download the Artefact and Site Cards - Primary (PDF, 4.4 MB)

This PDF contains all Archaeology Adventure Artefact Cards and Site Cards for Secondary students.

Download the Artefact and Site Cards - Secondary (PDF, 4.5 MB)

This is a snapshot of the history of the City of Melbourne from before colonisation in 1835 through to 1940. This resource may help you introduce this time, the city, and the lifestyle to students prior to, or after, completing Archaeology Adventure.

Download the artefact historical snapshot (PDF, 545.8 KB)