Created by mural artist and sculptor Bruce Mahalski, in his Royal Terrace residence, it opened to the public in March 2018.

[1] Part of his art practice involved creating works from animal bones, reflecting his lifetime fascination with natural history.

[2][4] In 2017, Mahalski moved back to his home town of Dunedin, and turned four rooms and the hall of his central city residence at 61 Royal Terrace into exhibition galleries, while continuing to live in the remainder of the house.

[1][2][5] The Museum of Natural Mystery opened to the public on 23 March 2018, initially only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

[5] From the outside the museum resembles an ordinary Dunedin villa, but is decorated with the rongorongo script of Easter Island.