Originally designed in 1857 and extended to the further designs by Bendigo Architects Vahland and Getzschmann, Emil Mauermann and William Beebe the original two story house expanded over time as Lansell's fortune increased and the subsequent mansion was built adjacent to the New Chum Reef and mine from which most of his wealth was yielded. Fortuna remained in the Lansell family for twenty nine years after George died and was sold by auction for demolition in 1934 only to be saved to become a reception house. In 1942 the Army acquired a lease for wartime mapping and occupied the site until 2008. It is now in private hands with the surrounding land being divided for housing. George Lansell was commonly known as 'Australia's Quartz-King' and director of thirty-eight mines with some link with almost every mine in Bendigo.A4 size tour booklet outlining the history, use and architectural features of Fortuna Villa which was purchased by George Lansell in 1860. mayor william beebe, george lansell

BHS CollectionCopy of a Bendigo Advertiser 20/11/1976 article titled Historically Speaking A gully with a past - and a present - Long Gully with Amy Huxtable. Mentioned is a study carried out by the consultants Ashton and Wilson, the people who settled in the areas and the houses and miners' cottages. Photos include a miners cottage with a hip and valley roof construction, the Truscott Family home, Rutland House, built for the Koch Family during the quartz era of Bendigo's mining days is now Crusade House, a timber miner's cottage with a kangaroo roof construction and a cottage in William Street. There are also advertisements from various businesses on the page.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - long gully, bendigo advertiser 20/11/1976, amy huxtable, bendigo city council, commonwealth government's national estate program, ashton and wilson, henry koch, truscott family, rutland house, hip and valley roof construction, kangaroo roof construction, vahland villa, helen lang's beauty salon, cane & kitchen, bazulas, myer, kangaroo flat newsagewncy, margaret kean, corrigan's pharmacy, w p bissett, rob vains, golden hills motel, gale's carpet steam cleaners, ray gale, dungey's bendigo travel service