Gold was discovered on Victoria Hill in 1854 and by 1861, 1,200,000 ounces of gold had been extracted from the site. The first claim was bought for 80 pounds by Prussian immigrant Christopher Ballerstedt and his son Theodore. Christopher Ballerstedt was nicknamed the "Father of the Hill" and was the first to prove that gold reefs extended below the surface. His 200-foot plus mine shafts yielded quartz rich with gold, inspired other miners, and were instrumental in Bendigo becoming the world's deepest and richest goldfield. The site still features relics of nineteenth century mining including quartz crushing machinery and the foundations of George Lansell’s 180 mine. These features are characteristic of Bendigo’s mining history and represent two prominent nineteenth century miners, Christopher Ballerstedt and George Lansell, who held important roles in the development of Bendigo. Victoria Hill Quartz Gold Mines are registered as a site of significance. The site is of historical, archaeological and scientific importance to Victoria. The mines represent the symbolic heart of Bendigo’s gold mining history and the importance that mining played in wealth creation and the development of Victoria. The diggings reserve is accessed from the rear of Albert Richardson Reserve located at 40-56 Marong Road, Ironbark. The site has steep and unformed paths and is closed to the public at dusk. It is important to stay to the paths to avoid the diggings. Interpretive signs help visitors to appreciate the importance of the site and the remaining relics of Bendigo’s mining history.Victoria Hill Ironbark, Bendigo. Photos of the poppet head, sand heap, tailings, shafts and tunnels. Before development into a tourist attraction.history, bendigo, victoria hill, ironbark, diggings

One page document handwritten by Albert Richardson on the Victoria Hill, Ironbark. Mines mentioned North Old Chum, Lansell's Big 180, Ballerstedt's Open Cut,bendigo, mining, victoria hill

Three page handwritten document transcribed by Albert Richardson. On top of document: The Victoria Reef, Victoria Spurs, East Victoria Reef, Try McWell Reef and the Hercules Reef. Reference Dickers Mining Record, Vol 1, No. 1 Page g. November 23, 1861. Document details the location of the reef lines and some of the mines and claims along them. For example, page one: 'The main Victoria, really a continuation of the South Victoria, commences at a point to the west of the Mt Korong Road, where the high portion of the ranges is intersected by the head of the Iron Bark Gully, the southern most claim being Ballerstedt and Son's. This line of reef is remarkable from the extraordinary richness of the lodes, not less than from the singular manner in which the gold has been distributed'.Albert Richardsonbendigo, mining, victoria reef line

Typed copy of notes on Fortuna. Notes include original builder, description of building, the 180 Gold Mine, Advance Mine. Two copies of page one.buildings, house, fortuna, fortuna, mr ballerstedt, 180 gold mine, wittscheibe brothers, mr george lansell, reidle's furniture store, wooton lansell, william lansell, miss edith bassford, duke of edinburgh, king george vi, duke of windsor, sir henry lock, marquis of normandy, earl of hopetoun, madam melba, advance mine, victoria reef, alfred e. wallis

Small typed document with some information on Fortuna -'Bendigo and Vicinity' - Fortuna. Mention of George Lansell, Theodore Ballerstedt.bendigo, house, fortuna villa, george lansell, theodore ballerstedt, 180 gold mine, fortuna, sir henry lock, the marquis of normanby, earl of hopetoun.

Negatives: 9 transparencies ( or could be photocopies of overhead transparencies ) of mine plans in Bendigo. Enclosed in brown paper wrapper. Written on outside ' A ? Transparencies, A. Richardson' NOTE: Other items in Albert Richardson Collection in Box 130. a. Victoria Quartz Mining Co, South Victoria Col North Old Chum, Lansells 180, b. Gibbs, Ballerstedt, Humboldt Co and Wells, Great Central Victoria Co., Adventure and Advance Co., c. South Victori Co, Victoria Quartz Mining Co., Lansells 180 d. Longitudinal section - unmarked mine e. Gibbs, Ballerstedt Humboldt Co and Wells, Great Central Victoria Co., Adventure and Advance Co. f. South Victoria Co., Victoria Quartz Mining Co., Lansells 180 g. Longitudinal section, unmarked mine h. Gibbs, Ballerstedt, Humboldt Co, and Wells, Adventure and Advance Co. i Longitudinal section, unmarked mineLongitudiunanegative, bendigo, mine plans, bendigo, alf richardson, engineering, mining, mine plans.

Six pages titled New Chum Reef. No number on the first page, the others are 109 to 113. Mentions location of the reef and some of the rich mines. The mines are mentioned in a table with the Name of Mine; Depth; Production; Dates; Plant, Machinery, Comments and Position. Ballerstedt, Ashley and Noy, and Grant were three of the successful miners. Mines mentioned are: South Goldfields, New Chum Goldfields, South New Chum, Lansell's 616, South Bellevue, Eureka, Eureka Extended, New Chum Bellevue, New chum Railway, Shenandoah, North Shenandoah, Shamrock, Old Chum, Little Chum, Young Chum, Craven, Garibaldi, Ellesmere, South Old Chum, New Chum Consolidated, North Ellesmere, New Chum United, Lansell's 222, Lansell's Fortuna, Lazarus, West End, Pioneer, Old Chum, New Chum Victoria, North Old Chum, Lansell's Big 180, Sterry, Victoria Quartz, South Adventure, Great Central Victoria, Ballerstedt No 3, Adventure, Humbold, British and American, Midway, Victoria Consuls, Victoria absorbed by Ironbark, Hercules and Energetic, Victoria Pilot, North Hercules and Energetic, Great Extended Hercules, Pearl, Southern Victoria, Great Extended Victoria, Young Victoria, New Catherine Victoria, Weatern Victoria, New Victoria St Mungo, Surprise, Mystery, Duke of Edinburgh, New St Mungo, Duchess Tribute, South Devonshire, Duchess of Edinburgh, West United Devonshire, Albert, United Devonshire, Saxon and Celt, Hopewell, Prince of Wales, Phoenix, Unicorn, South St Mungo, Princess Alice, Lady Barkly, North Devonshire, Ranzeau, St Mungo, Dublin and Cornwall, Sadowa, Eastwood, Ellenborough, Belmont and Saxeby, Snobs Hill, York and Durham, La bElle, Old Williams United, Arcadia, Williams United, South Catherine, Central Catherine, Catherine United, Murchison, New Franklin, Catherine Extended, Pony Club Oval, Housing Commission, Mt Alvernia Hospital, Fortuna, Lunt, Army Survey Unit, Wybrandt, John Brown Factory, Canterbury, Hercules and Energetic and the North Red White and Blue.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - new chum reef, ballerstedt, ashley and noy, grant, south goldfields, new chum goldfields, south new chum, lansell's 616, south bellevue, eureka, eureka extended, new chum bellevue, new chum railway, shenandoah, north shenandoah, shamrock, old chum, little chum, young chum, craven, garibaldi, ellesmere, south old chum, new chum consolidated, north ellesmere, new chum united, lansell's 222, lansell's fortuna, lazarus, west end, pioneer, old chum, new chum victoria, north old chum, lansell's big 180, sterry, victoria quartz, south adventure, great central victoria, ballerstedt no 3, adventure, humbold, british and american, midway, victoria consuls, victoria absorbed by ironbark, hercules and energetic, victoria pilot, north hercules and energetic, great extended hercules, pearl, southern victoria, great extended victoria, young victoria, new catherine victoria, weatern victoria, new victoria st mungo, surprise, mystery, duke of edinburgh, new st mungo, duchess tribute, south devonshire, duchess of edinburgh, west united devonshire, albert, united devonshire, saxon and celt, hopewell, prince of wales, phoenix, unicorn, south st mungo, princess alice, lady barkly, north devonshire, ranzeau, st mungo, dublin and cornwall, sadowa, eastwood, ellenborough, belmont and saxeby, snobs hill, york and durham, la belle, old williams united, arcadia, williams united, south catherine, central catherine, catherine united, murchison, new franklin, catherine extended, pony club oval, housing commission, mt alvernia hospital, fortuna, lunt, army survey unit, wybrandt, john brown factory, canterbury, hercules and energetic, north red white and blue

Drawing of leases with lease numbers, names of owners and names of mines on the New Chum Line of Reef. Lease numbers are: L296, L1505, L5394, L7486, 130, L1286, L3941, L6299, L7427, L323, L3175, L812, L3757, L3888, L6198, L703, L1130, L703, L3321, L3347, L3884, L4167, L4357, L6296, L55, L239, L962, L1494, L1708, L239, L962, L3320, L4779, L6457, L129, L961, L3926, L5566, L19, L959, L4652, L4895, L5371, L7740, L960, L4415, L4793.document, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, victoria hill new chum line leases, j wybrants, s h mcgowan, north old chum n l, c & t ballerstedt, ballerstedt & son, geo lansell, j holmes, victoria reef company, h hawkins, victoria reef quartz mining co n l, g n craig, j g wheadon, wells & gibbs, midway co, s g cole, gibbs ballerstedt & wells united mining co, w barker, humboldt g m co, great central victoria co n l, howard and neumann, endeavor qtz mining co, woodward & gibbs, endeavor co, smith horner white and tipping, albert co, h birch, victoria consols mining co, victoria reef, sullivan jackson, nicholas ballerstedt & jones, ironbark quartz mining co, j h abbott, ironbark co n l, h y north, new chum consolidated g m co, d macdougall, h von der heyde, hercules & energetic co n l

Slide. Ballerstedt's Open Cut at Victoria Hill.mine, gold, ballerstedt's open cut., bendigo mines-jack hattam collection.

Composite Panoramic Black and White Photograph showing Fortuna Villa & surrounds with Lake in foregroundplace, building, residential, fortuna villa, mine, mining, fortuna, george lansell, christopher ballerstedt

Black and White Photograph of the Lansell's 180 Mine, Pictured in the Centre of the photo are 4 towers numbered 1-4 with Lansell's 180 written as well on tower 2, 'Piece of Paper contained with Photos could be the details of the possible donor reads 'Sandra McLachlan, 5 Chaple Cross Crt, Delecombe 3556, 0432 718 315, [email protected], 5336 1220'photograph, mining, lansell's 180 mine, mining, marong road, eaglehawk road, victoria hill, lansell, george lansell, christopher ballerstedt

Photograph - black and white. - A copy of a photograph. Written on the back of the photo - Victoria Hill - Ballerstedt Claim in centre foreground. Poppet heads in background. Two chimney stacks.place, mining site, victoria hill, mine - victoria hill. ballerstedt

Two printed pages titled Tales of Victoria Hill. Mentioned is the gold yield on the New Chum Line of Reef, early gold discovery, Christopher Ballerstedt and his son Theodore, Theodore building Fortuna as well as a crusher or battery in its grounds. He believed he had exhausted the riches from his claims and sold the claim on the hill to George Lansell, deepest gold mine, interconnecting to neighbouring mines to obtain the required up and down drafts for ventilation, rising of the water levels resulting the closure of the Victorian Quartz Mine when a rope broke and the equipment that is still there. An accompanying photo of the Victoria Quartz Mine shows the buildings, chimney and poppet legs and a man standing in front of a building. There is also an accompanying floppy disc.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - tales of victoria hill, j n macarthy, christopher ballerstedt, theodore ballerstedt, fortuna, george lansell, lansell's 180, victoria quartz co, victorian consols, bendigo's deepest known gold bearing reef

Typed notes titled ' Bendigo Memories, 1860 - 80'. Mentioned the Meudell family, some successful mine owners, the statue of the shepherd and the wild beast in the Conservatory Gardens, an argument over a rooster between two Chinese neighbours, Laying the Foundation Stone of the Sandhurst Masonic-Hall, a ring presented to Mr Lysaght by the Chinese, and 'It Slowly Fades Away' which is about a house near a tennis court which has an old brewery under the back garden.document, bendigo memories 1860 - 80, g d meudell, 'the pleasant career of a spendthrift', william meudell, bank of victoria (bendigo), hon henry miller, george lansell, bank of new south wales, oriental bank, union bank, adventure and advance mine, g ballerstedt, 180 mine, garden gully united co, john boyd watson, carlisle mine, kentish mine, barnett lazarus, william hunter, joseph hunter, robert hunter, burnewang park, william moffat, bendigo advertiser 1930, mr r buck, statue in conservatory gardens, bendigo advertiser 26/2/1949, mr wells, abraham harkness, alex h stone, bendigo advertiser 16/6/1868, sing toe, ming foy, mr flegg, mr mclachlan, mr w perry, laying the foundation stone of the sandhurst masonic-hall, messrs vahland and getzschmann, mr w c vahland, brother j m'intyre w m, brother buckley, brother connelly, golden and corinthian grand united lodge, the rev j c m'cullagh, brother g p joseph, the australasian sketcher 9/8/1873, chinese testimonial, mr lysaght, bendigo advertiser 27/11/1856, ben eagle, 'it slowly fades away', michelson home, joch, mr michelson

Typed notes titled 'Bendigo and its Historical Associations. Mentioned are the buildings that were erected between the 1870's and the turn of the century, the buildings and churches, the meeting of diggers and the formation of the Red Ribbon League,the early gold miners, the purchase of the Central Deborah Mine, the Bendigo Easter Fair , the Chinese, and Eaglehawk.document, bendigo and its historical associations, lake eppalock, the beehive, beehive chambers, post office, law courts, shamrock hotel, town hall, home and hospital for the aged, bendigo base hospital, hospital hill, forest street wesley, congregational, st johns presbyterian, all saints pro-cathedral, red ribbon league, sacred heart cathedral, a n z bank, atkinson's building, holland bros, a h q survey regiment headquarters, george lansell, fortuna, pioneer, j b lazarus, theodore ballerstedt, victoria quartz mine, wm rae, witscheibes 'jewellers shop', gold mines hotel, david sterry, the bendigo and district tourist association, city council, central deborah gold mine, victoria hill, sun loong, loong, bendigo easter fair, chinese joss house, white hills cemetery, st killian's church, log lock-up, whipstick forest, a richardson, bendigo branch royal historical society of victoria

Victoria Hill Marong Rd Bendigo (Opposite the Gold Mines Hotel) Heritage Day Brochure 2010. Victoria Hill Guided Tours James Lerk (Bendigo Historical Society) George Ellis (Bendigo Cornish Association) Rod Orr (Bendigo Field Naturalists Club) David Bannear (Heritage Victoria) Presentations: Rod Fraser The Geology of Victoria Hill and Bendigo, Kurt Walder German Heritage Ballerstedts-miners from the Hartz Mountains crushing battery, Rod Orr Mining and the Environment in Bendigo, Michele Matthews (BRAC) Sir John Quick the Forgotten Father of Federation spent his youth in the shadow of Victoria Hill, David Bannear ''Things Forgotten'' - the Archaelogy of Bendigo, Carol Holsworth the Chinese and Victoria Hill area, John Kelly Inquests held at the Gold Mines Hotel, George Ellis The Cornish miners of the Ironbark and Long Gully area, Amanda Jean The Ironbark Heritage Study. Coath Cottage Open Day owner Andrew Ward and Restorer Gary Hill explain the history and restoration of the 1860s miners cottage after Black Saturday fire. Restoration Loans from the City of Greater Bendigo.bendigo, gold mining, heritage day 2010