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

Handwritten carbon copy of notes with typed copy of same, for signs on Victoria Hill. Signs mentioned are: Ballerstedt's First Open Cut,20 Head Crushing Battery, Victoria Quartz Mine, Victoria Quartz Foundations of Steel Poppet Legs, Coloured rock formations, Primitive tunnels, Adit, Engine Beds Lansell's Big 180 Mine, Anticlinal Arch, Coloured rock formations marking and patterns. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.document, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, abridged signs for victoria hill, ballerstedt's first open cut, 20 head crushing battery, victoria quartz mine, victoria quartz foundations of steel poppet legs, coloured rock formations, primitive tunnels, adit, engine beds lansell's big 180 mine, anticlinal arch, coloured rock formations marking and patterns

Handwritten notes and typed copy, on Victoria Hill. Notes mention the completion of the Bendigo and District Tourist Association's Mining project, what can be seen in the area, the views of Bendigo from the top of the 68 feet high poppet legs, geological features and rock colourings in the open cuts, its direct link to Fortuna mansion and the one-time deepest mine workings in the world. On the back is a number of references and page numbers. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.document, memo, victoria hill, victoria hill, notes on victoria hill, bendigo and district tourist association, new chum line, lansell's fortuna mansion, central nell gwynne

Handwritten carbon copy, and later typed copy, of a list of further signs for Victoria Hill. Signs include Quartz Veins, Prospecting Shaft, 1929, Concrete Dam, Anticlinal Arch New Chum Line, Engine Beds for Gt Central Victoria (Midway Mine), Prospecting Tunnels, Primitive Tunnel. Notes at the end: Given to Geo & Max Ellis on 31/3/1971 and Prospecting tunnels driven from small Open Cut in 1860's. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.document, memo, victoria hill, victoria hill, further signs victoria hill, new chum line, gt central victoria (midway mine), victoria quartz, davis, geo ellis, max ellis

Hand written notes and typed copy of the history of Victoria Hill area. Some of the mines from South to North: North Old Chum, Lansell's 'Big 180', Ballerstedt's Open - Cut, 20 Head Battery Stampers, The Victoria Quartz, Rae's Open - Cut, which has some colourful geographical features, Central Victoria (also known as the 'Midway'), Wittshiebe's 'Jeweller's Shop', Boldt's 5 Head Crushing Battery (site only), Advance Shaft, Hercules & Energetic. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.mine, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, victoria hill history, north old chum, john wybrandt, lansell's 'bit 180', t ballerstedt, wittschiebe, fortuna villa, geo lansell, a h q survey regiment, ballerstedt's open cut, victoria quartz (victoria reef quartz), rae's open cut, wm rae, gt central victoria (midway), adventure, wittshiebe's 'jeweller's shop', boldt's 5 head crushing battery, advance, cinderella, hercules & energetic, john brown knitwear factory, a richardson

Slide. Rae's open cut at Victoria Hill.mine, gold, rae's open cut, victoria hill., bendigo mines-jack hattam collection.

Black & white newspaper photo of part of the Victoria Hill Mining Area. There are a number of school children in the photo. On the left are old car bodies. Behind them is a rocky area and behind that is a house with three chimneys. In the foreground is more rock, some with netting over it. Mr A. E. Richardson, president of Bendigo Historical Society, led a party of children from Parkmoor, Heatherdale and Forest Hill Primary Schools over mining areas and spoke on the mining industry. The photo was in the Bendigo Advertiser, Sat. May 2, 1970. Article part of Albert Richardson collection of mining documents.mine, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, victoria hill newspaper photo, mr a e richardson

Twelve handwritten copied pages (a & b) of notes with typed copy of same, regarding the signs for Victoria Hill. Signs indicate the feature and a description including Prospecting Shafts, dams, engine beds, Lansell's Big 180 Shaft, stampers, Victoria Quartz Mine, Victoria Quartz Dams, Rae's Open Cut, Anticlinal Arch, small primitive tunnels, Engine-bed for Great Central Victoria known as 'Midway' mine, prospecting tunnels, floyd's small 5 Head Crushing Battery, Ballerstedt's Small 24 Yard Claim, The Humboldt 1856 to 1861, Luffsman and Sterry's Claim, and A Round Shaft.document, memo, victoria hill, victoria hill, notes on victoria hill (signs), lansell's big 180, ballerstedt senior, george lansell, victoria quartz mine, victoria reef quartz coy, wm rae, a roberts & sons, mr e j dunn, new chum drainage scheme, eureka extended, new chum railway, pearl, bendigo advertiser, inrush of water at the victoria quartz, victoria consols, shamrock, shenandoah, victoria quartz dams, rae's open cut. prospecting tunnel, floyd's small 5 head crushing battery, great central victoria (midway), midway no 2, midway north, ballerstedt's small 24 yard claim, the humboldt, wittscheibe, the adventure, advance, george lansell, luffsman & sterry's claim, david sterry, gold mines hotel, city of sandhurst, lansell's fortuna, a richardson

Three pages numbered 18/19, 20/21 and 22/23 titled Victoria Hill. First page has some information on Victoria Hill, a sketch of W Rae's Home and Rae's Open cut. The second page has a map of the Victoria Hill Area showing streets and the New Chum Anticline, a sketch of Ballerstedt's Open Cut and a Key to Victoria Hill Area Map. The third page mentions the Victoria Quartz mine, Tributors and quartz roasting. It also has sketch of a 20 Head Crushing Battery, Victoria Hill.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - victoria hill, gold mines hotel, christopher ballerstedt, theodore ballerstedt, ballerstedt's open cut, lansell's 180 mine, little 180 mine, new chum syncline battery, victoria reef quartz mining co, victoria quartz, new chum drainage scheme, a roberts and sons, tributors, william rae's bon accord mine and open cut, william rae, adventure and advance open cuts, central nell gwynne, heinz butcher shop

Handwritten carbon copy and typed copy of notes on 1st and 2nd stage plans for a tourist area on approx. 20 acres at Victoria Hill. First stage was to clean up the area, locate and sign post shafts, engine beds, etc and prepare a topographical map with these features on it. Second stage was to arrange for the purchase of typical miners homes and shops in the vicinity to be restored for inspection by visitors. Mining equipment to be placed in the area. Prepare brochures for sale. Set up a mining museum.Prepare an area near BCV 8 with direction finder to mining and general features, as this has the best natural ground level view in the City. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.mine, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, visitor plans for victoria hill, darrel mcclure, bendigo city council, bendigo historical society, central nell gwynne, caleb thomas, bcv 8, lazarus, old chum, new chum, victoria, repeater station (p. m. g.)

Three pages of typed notes on creamy paper. Notes mention the mines on Victoria Hill and gives some information about them such as depth, ounces of gold extracted and who owned them. Mines mentioned are: The North Old Chum, Lansell's Big 180, Ballerstedt's Open-Cut, Little 180 Crushing Battery, the Victoria Quartz, Rae's Open-Cut, Great Central Victoria, Wittshiebe's 'Jeweller's Shop', Boldt's 5 Head Crushing Battery, Northern Slope and the Advance Shaft. Written in pencil at the top: Copy of material sent to Herald Reporter by R. Aulsbrook 30/7/68. Copied from my material and initialled AR. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.mine, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, mines situated on victoria hill, john wybrandt, wittscheibe, t ballerstedt, fortuna villa, george lansell, a h q survey regiment, ballerstedt's open-cut, little 180 crushing battery, little 180 mine, new chum syncline, victoria quartz (victoria reef quartz), rae's open-cut, william rae, great central victoria (midway), adventurer, wittshiebe's 'jeweller's shop', boldt's 5 head crushing battery, northern slope, the advance shaft, cinderella, hercules and energetic, john brown knitwear factory, r aulsbrook, the herald

Eleven pages including four pages of photocopied photos, They are:- Wm Rae's Crushing Works, The Victoria Quartz Mine, Looking North from Old Chum Hill to the Victoria Hill early 1870's, Victoria Hill from Rae's Open Cut. Notes begin at page 4, there are two page 6 and no page 7, otherwise same notes as 3573.1. Small note with 'Notes on Victoria Hill - incomplete. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.document, gold, rae's crushing battery, rae's crushing battery, wm rae's crushing works, victoria quartz mine, view from old chum hill to the victoria hill, victoria hill from rae's open cut, ballerstedt, lansell's bit 180, dickers mining record 23/11/1861, j n macartney bendigo goldfields registry 1871, new chum syncline, cleopatra needle type chimney, victoria quartz coy, annals of bendigo, australian mining standard special edition 1/6/1899, bendigo advertiser, bendigo & vicinity 1895, h harkness & sons, new chum drainage scheme, eureka extd, new chum railway, pearl, inrush of water at victoria quartz mine, floyd's small 5 head crushing battery, great central victoria (midway), midway, midway no 2, midway north, ballerstedt's small 24 yard claim, the humboldt, wittscheibe, the adventure, bendigo mines ltd, luffsman & sterry's claim, round shaft, chinese joss house, fortuna

14 pages booklet - Victoria Hill Bendigo - A publication of the Bendigo Trust.bendigo, mining, victoria hill

Two copies of document : nineteen handwritten pages of notes on 'The Rich Victoria Hill and Its Historical Association' Signed by A Richardson and dated 30 - 8 - 1971. and a typed copy of same. Notes include: Introduction, Hotels, Mines, Mining History and descriptions of features where the signposts are. Mines mentioned in the text are: North Old Chum. Ballerstedt's first open cut, Lansell's Big 180. 20 head stamper, Lansell's Cleopatra Needle, Victoria Quartz Mine. Cleopatra's Needle was a square sectioned brick chimney with this four sided pyramidal chimney top with four vents to allow the smoke to escape whatever the direction of the wind. It was demolished in the 1950's as it had a bend in it and it was considered unsafe. Lansell had two other mines with similar chimneys, the '222' in Chum Street and his 'Sandhurst' or 'Needle' mine near the Bendigo, Eaglehawk boundary. Notes prepared by Albert Richardson.mine, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill, the rich victoria hill and it's historical association, j. n. macartney, quartz miner's arms hotel, ironbark methodist church, greek orthodox church, john brown knitwear factory, little 180 mine, geo lansell, conrad heinz, british & american hotel, victoria reef gold mining coy, manchester arms hotel, housing commission homes, ironbark (victoria reef gold mines, hercules and energetic, midway, wittscheibe, gt central victoria, wm rae, mr & mrs conroy, wm rae jr, central nell gwynne, moorhead's shop, gill family, gold mines hotel, david chaplin sterry, pioneer, new chum and victoria, burrowes and sterry, new chum and victoria tribute, rotary club of bendigo south, big 180, victoria quartz mines, jeweller's shop, bendigo and district tourist association, north old chum mine, john wybrandt, ballerstedt's first open-cut, j c t christopher ballerstedt, ballerstedt's mine, bendigo cemetry, lansell's 'cleopatra nedle' type chimney, 222 mine, sandhurst or 'needle' mine, victoria quartz mine, victoria reef quartz company, mr e j dunn, eureka ext'd, new chum railway, pearl, bendigo advertiser 16 june 1910, victoria consols, shamrock, shenandoah, victoria quartz dams, rae's open cut, prospecting tunnels, floyd's small 5 head crushing battery, gt central victoria (midway) shaft, midway no 2, midway north, ballerstedt's small 24 yard claim, the humboldt, the tribute coy, advance, luffsman and sterry's claim, a round shaft, chinese joss house, lansell's fortuna, p m g repeater station, a richardson

Contour plan of the Victoria Hill area, with all of the historical features marked and namedCompiled by AHQ Survey Regt. CMF increment May 1971map, reserves, mining, bendigo goldfield, victoria hill

Sixteen-page document with details about Victoria Hill, Victoria Spurs, East Victoria Reef, Try Me Well Reef and Hercules Reef. (ref: Dicker's Mining Record 23rd November 1861) Wittschiebe & Co's Claim Victoria Hill, Victoria Reef Gold Mining Company and Victoria Quartz are mentioned.bendigo, mining, victoria hill

BHS CollectionVictoria Hill Bendigo a publication of the Bendigo Trust with maps, black and white & colour photographs.bendigo, gold mining, victoria hill, bendigo-history-mining

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

Three page handwritten document outlining the history of the Victoria Hill area. The open cuts on Victoria Hill; Lansell's Big 180 Mine, Victoria Quartz Mine; Wittscheibe's 'Jewellers Shop', Luffman and Sterry, Central Nell Gwynne and New Chum Hill are mentioned in the article. A description of the suitability of the Victoria Hill site as a potential mining museum is discussed as 'it is centrla to both the northern and southern ends of the main portion of the Bendigo and Eaglehawk mines'. William Rae built two fine residences on Happy Valley Road, and also set up a 30 head battery out of his gains from Victoria Hill.bendigo, mining, victoria hill