This is the original packaging for the ZX Spectrum video game Sherlock, featuring a striking profile of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective on the cover. This adaptation of Sherlock Holmes shows how early Australian companies were part of the video game industry.

Sherlock was developed by Melbourne’s Beam Software and published by Melbourne House in 1984 for home computers, long before they were commonplace in every household. This iteration of the packaging may be showing signs of wear and tear, but it clearly told gamers what was in store in the interactive: murder, intrigue and a mystery to solve, dear Watson.