Fortuna Villa was initially commenced as a modest single storey home in 1861 next to the 180 Mine by Theodore Ballerstedt, who sold the mine and house to George Lansell in 1869. Lansell already owned the adjacent Fortuna Mine, and through deeper mining techniques greatly expanded the mine's operation, his personal wealth, and the house and grounds. Lansell was soon known as the 'Quartz King', Australia's first gold mining millionaire and credited as the driving force behind much of Bendigo's prosperity. He continuously added to and expanded the villa, decorating it extravagantly with the finest of artworks and materials, into a sprawling mansion with extensive landscaped grounds, to create a house and grounds of a size and grandeur with few rivals in Australia. After his death in 1907, his second wife Edith carried on with improvements, creating a house and grounds developed over 50 years. The attached mine also contributes to its significance, being one of the richest mines in Bendigo, and at one stage probably the deepest gold mine in the world at 3176 feet. The 1875 crushing works are attached directly to the mansion, and the mine's tailings and settling ponds (turned into ornamental lakes) represent a direct link between George Lansell's wealth and its source. Fortuna was compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth in 1942 as the Cartographic Headquarters of the Australian Survey Corps during World War II, and many ancillary structures were added while preserving the main house and ornamental grounds. Victorian Heritage Database Report https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/68334/download-reportPreliminary report of Structural assessment of Building 16 Fortuna Complex, Chum Street, Bendigo. Four page preliminary report finding the building is structurally safe as at Wed 19 December 2007 with three recommendations. Prepared for DIGO by Structural Engineers - Terry Stevens Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd.fortuna, structural assessment

Fortuna Villa was initially commenced as a modest single storey home in 1861 next to the 180 Mine by Theodore Ballerstedt, who sold the mine and house to George Lansell in 1869. Lansell already owned the adjacent Fortuna Mine, and through deeper mining techniques greatly expanded the mine's operation, his personal wealth, and the house and grounds. Lansell was soon known as the 'Quartz King', Australia's first gold mining millionaire and credited as the driving force behind much of Bendigo's prosperity. He continuously added to and expanded the villa, decorating it extravagantly with the finest of artworks and materials, into a sprawling mansion with extensive landscaped grounds, to create a house and grounds of a size and grandeur with few rivals in Australia. After his death in 1907, his second wife Edith carried on with improvements, creating a house and grounds developed over 50 years. The attached mine also contributes to its significance, being one of the richest mines in Bendigo, and at one stage probably the deepest gold mine in the world at 3176 feet. The 1875 crushing works are attached directly to the mansion, and the mine's tailings and settling ponds (turned into ornamental lakes) represent a direct link between George Lansell's wealth and its source. Fortuna was compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth in 1942 as the Cartographic Headquarters of the Australian Survey Corps during World War II, and many ancillary structures were added while preserving the main house and ornamental grounds. Victorian Heritage Database Report https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/68334/download-reportTicket for Fortuna Villa Tour conducted by the Army Survey Regiment and the National Trust. 31/12/1985. Black printing on yellow card.fortuna villa, tour

Fortuna Villa was initially commenced as a modest single storey home in 1861 next to the 180 Mine by Theodore Ballerstedt, who sold the mine and house to George Lansell in 1869. Lansell already owned the adjacent Fortuna Mine, and through deeper mining techniques greatly expanded the mine's operation, his personal wealth, and the house and grounds. Lansell was soon known as the 'Quartz King', Australia's first gold mining millionaire and credited as the driving force behind much of Bendigo's prosperity. He continuously added to and expanded the villa, decorating it extravagantly with the finest of artworks and materials, into a sprawling mansion with extensive landscaped grounds, to create a house and grounds of a size and grandeur with few rivals in Australia. After his death in 1907, his second wife Edith carried on with improvements, creating a house and grounds developed over 50 years. The attached mine also contributes to its significance, being one of the richest mines in Bendigo, and at one stage probably the deepest gold mine in the world at 3176 feet. The 1875 crushing works are attached directly to the mansion, and the mine's tailings and settling ponds (turned into ornamental lakes) represent a direct link between George Lansell's wealth and its source. Fortuna was compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth in 1942 as the Cartographic Headquarters of the Australian Survey Corps during World War II, and many ancillary structures were added while preserving the main house and ornamental grounds. Victorian Heritage Database Report https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/68334/download-reportProposal for the formation of a Fortuna Commission to ensure the preservation of Fortuna Villa. Written by Daryl McClure. May 2012fortuna villa, preservation, daryl mcclure

Handwritten extract from the Bendigo Advertiser 20/8/1910 Page 8. ''New Chum Mines. Unwatering of the deep levels is being carried on as expeditionsly as was expected by the authorities. In the last four days, the water has only been lowered 14 feet at the Victoria Quartz Mine. The water stood at the 3,226 feet level yesterday. The slow progress being made this week is no doubt due to the large quantity in the workings at some of the levels.'' From the Bendigo Advertiser 27/8/1910 Page 9. ''New Chum Mines. Very slow progress being made. At Victoria Quartz, the water was lowered 32 feet for the week, and is now at 3258 feet. New Chum Railway lowered the water 17 feet and the present level of the water is at 1796 feet. The Lazarus are raising water from 2157 feet. The water has ceased flowing into the New Chum and Victoria through the connecting level with the Lazarus Mine at about 2,500 feet. As the Victoria Quartz is down 4,614 feet, there is still a considerable quantity of water to get out before sinking of the shaft can be resumed.''document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, new chum mines drainage problems 1910, bendigo advertiser 20/8/1910 page 8 & 27/8/1910 page 9, new chum mines, victoria quartz, new chum railway, lazarus, new chum and victoria

Two handwritten pages with extracts from the Bendigo Advertiser Mining Intelligence. Notes mention making arrangements with other mines to resume bailing, Victoria Quartz still shaft sinking despite strong flow of water, Lansell's 180 preparing to bail water from the deep levels, so that the Victoria Quartz may continue shaft sinking and finishing cutting of plat at 4454 ft. Also a weather report on the 14/6/1910. From the Albert Richardson Mining History Collection.gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, water problems, bendigo advertiser mining intelligence 18/4/1910, 9/5/1910, 23/5/1910, 30/5/1910, 6/6/1910, 13/6/1910, victoria quartz, lazarus coy, lansell's 180, albert richardson

Handwritten notes from Bendigo Advertiser reports. (1) Mr J. H. Craig reports- Victoria Reef Quartz - Cleaned and tested No 3 boiler. Have bailed 3,905 tanks. Water now 2.953 feet from surface. At Lazarus - Bailed 4,828 tanks. At New Chum Railway - Cleaned and tested boilers and flues, effected repairs to machinery and shaft, and started bailing at 3 pm on Friday 29th inst, and bailed 965 tanks. Bendig Advertiser 3/8/1910 Page 2 Mining Intelligence. (2) New Chum Mines - Better progress is now being made in lowering the water in the deep level workings at the New Chum Mines. At the Victoria Quartz, the water which on Monday stood at 3073feet, has been lowered 70 feet during the past four days. The pumping service at the New Chum Railway was in operation yesterday, and the winding plant is fully occupied. There is a considerable quantity of water toraise, and the companies have a difficult task before them. Bendigo Advertiser 5/8/1910 Page 2. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, new chum mines drainage problems 1910, bendigo advertiser 3/8/1910 page 2, mr j h craig, victoria reef quartz, lazarus, new chum railway, bendigo advertiser 5/8/1910 page 2, albert richardson

Handwritten copy of reports from the Bendigo Advertiser regarding water in the mine. (1) The bailing of water is occupying attention in other mines (from Shamrock North) to the Victoria Quartz. The water despite the efforts of the companies engaged bailing, continues to rise. Bendigo Advertiser July 18th Page 3. (2) Victoria Quartz Half Yearly Meeting, Lapsed, No quorum. Directors' Report: Sinking of shaft carried on till 14th June, when it was 4,614 ft. deep. Progress very satisfactory. Progress very satisfactory considering increase of water. As water was interfering with work, made arrangements on 3rd May, that 180 Mine should bail, and Minister of Mines agreed to allow, expense to be charged against work subsidised by Government. Arrangements now made for Lazarus, 222 and New Chum Consolidated mines to bail to unwater line of reef. Victoria Consols, Ironbark, 83, and Hercules and Energetic Companies have undertaken to contribute to cost, and Gov't will allow this to be charged on grant. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage association, victoria quartz, bendigo advertiserjuly 18th page 2 mining intelligence, bendigo advertiser 20/7/1910 page 3, lazarus, 222, new chum consolidated, victoria consols, ironbark, 83, hercules and energetic, albert richardson

Two handwritten copies of a Bendigo Advertiser report 16/6/1910 Page 7. This is a longer version of 3600.14. It was thought that the rush of water was from a dam bursting in one of the other mines, but as the water showed no signs of slowing that theory was discarded. The temperature of the incoming water was much higher than the Victoria Quartz was accustomed to bail, and this circumstance is significent in view of the increased temperature of the water at the deep levels in the New Chum Railway. Some months ago, the water commenced to flow from the New Chum Railway workings into the New Shenandoah, which is the next mine north. The water rose so rapidly that a disaster was narrowly averted. The mines along the line were connected at different levels and with the cessation of bailing at the deep levels in the southern mines, it was only to be expected that the water would find its way north to the Victoria Quartz. The water raised from the operating mines under the direction of the New Chum Drainage Association, a yeart or two ago used to exceed six million gallons per month. At that time there were eight companies bailing water, and even then some of the plants, especially those at the deep mines, were severely taxed in coping with the water, and performing ordinary work. Since some mines had discontinued bailing, the water has been filling up extensive workings, and as was predicted in the ''Advertiser'' some time ago, the Victoria Quartz Company could not expect to succeed with its deep sinking project without making some special provision for raising the water, which ultimately would become a source of trouble. The Victoria Quartz Company was allotted a special grant of 10,000 pound to assist in sinking the shaft 1000 ft from the 4254 ft level. Under the conditions of the grant, the Company had to contribute half the cost of the sinking, and the raising of the water has also been an exensive item. For the present, all attention will be concentrated in lowering the water, and should the appliances prove unequal to the task the deep sinking scheme can only be accomplished by resorting to some comprehensive system of combating the water'. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, inrush of water at the victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 16/6/1910 page 7, mine reports 13/6/1910, victoria quartz, lansell's 180, mr stevens, mr w abraham, new chum & victoria mine, new chum railway, new shenandoah, new chum drainage association

Six pages of handwritten notes regarding the New Chum Drainage Proposals. Extracts from the Bendigo Advertiser mentioning the rising of the water in the New Chum Mines. An Advertiser report 27/12/1910 mentions that deep mining will have to be abandoned owing to the absence of some proper scheme to cope with the water. An arrangement had been made by which the companies affected along the line should contribute to a scheme. Suggestions made that the water be lifted by electric pumps. Baling with tanks had been tried for 6 months and then abandoned. Directors Report Victoria Reef Quartz Jan 1911 mentions unwatering had been carried on with assistance of Government. On the 20th Dec, one rope gave out. Decided that replacing it and doing the necessary work could not be met in the present financial conditions. It was also considered that the costof trying to reach the bottom reefcut in the New Chum Railway could not be continued by baling as its cost proved too expensive, while it could probably be done economically & effectively by electric pump which is now subject to negotiations with the Mining Dept.' At the end of the report is a Balance Sheet. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, new chum drainage proposals, bendigo advertiser 11/1/1911 page 7, victoria quartz, victoria consols, bendigo advertiser 5/7/1910 page 3, mr h v whitelaw, mines dept, insp ross, lansell's 180, 222, new chum consolidated, lazarus, bendigo advertiser 6/7/1910 page 7, 9/7/1910 page 9, drainage troubles, bendigo advertiser 8/7/ page 8, new chum railway, south belle vue, eureka ext'd, bgo adv 25/7 1910, 27/12/1910 page 2, rae's machine, bendigo advertiser 2/1/1911, mr mcbride, mines dept, mr stanfield, mines act, bendigo advertiser 16/1/1911 page 3, victoria reef quartz half yearly meeting 1911, directors report and balance sheet, geo paynting

Handwritten notes from a Bendigo Advertiser report, Thursday June 16th 1910. Management had for some time been apprehensive that the flooding in the deep mines to the south would affect them. Lansell's 180 took the precaution of baling. On the Tuesday night the men at the Victoria Quartz had a sensational experience. The storage dam at 3324 ft level receives the overflow from the flooded mines to the south. The level connects with the 3310 level at the Big 180. The water flows uninterrupted into thestorage dam which has a capacity of about 270 tanks. The dam had been emptied on Tuesday morning and work continued until 10 pm that night. The platman noticed that the water was coming down the shaft in a regular torrent. They didn't take much notice as they thought it was a leakinig outlet valve on the ascending tank. At 11 pm the releiving shift came down the shaft and said that the dam at 3,324 ft must be overflowing. The velocity of the water pouring down the shaft increased and the men made a hurried exit from the bottom of the shaft which is down 310 ft from the 4.254 ft plat (a total depth of 4,564 ft). An inspection of the dam at the 3324 ft level found it to be overflowing. By morning (Wednesday) the shaft had filled, and the water rose to 7 ft in the plat at 4254 feet. Mining inspector hgave orders that men were not to go below the 3324 ft level. Baling continued without cessation at the Big 180 all day and could not lower the water. Drilling machines etc and a powerful air winch at the 4254 ft plat are under water. An inspection made of the 3100 ft level at the 180 mine where the workings are connected with the New Chum & Victoria showed that water was running strongly from that mine proving that the inrush was due to flooded water from the southern deep mines to the south. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history. Document from Albert Richardson Collection of mining history.document, gold, drainage problems, new chum drainage scheme, miners sensational experience at the victoria quartz, bendigo advertiser 16/6/1910 page7, lansell's 180, big 180, new chum & victoria

Handwritten extract from the Bendigo Advertiser 27/12/1910 Page 2. ''The Victoria Quartz, having deepened its shaft to 4,614 feet, had to abandon sinking on account of an inrush of water from the flooded mines to the south on the line. The influx occurred on the 15th of June, and notwithstanding that baling has been carried on almost constantly the company has failed to get the water out. It appears that the deep ground will have to be abandoned, owing to the absence of some proper scheme to cope with the water.'' Albert Richardson Mining History Collection.document, gold, drainage problems, drainage problems, new chum line drainage problems 1910, bendigo advertiser 27/12/1910 page 2, victoria quartz, albert richardson

Fortuna Villa was initially commenced as a modest single storey home in 1861 next to the 180 Mine by Theodore Ballerstedt, who sold the mine and house to George Lansell in 1869. Lansell already owned the adjacent Fortuna Mine, and through deeper mining techniques greatly expanded the mine's operation, his personal wealth, and the house and grounds. Lansell was soon known as the 'Quartz King', Australia's first gold mining millionaire and credited as the driving force behind much of Bendigo's prosperity. He continuously added to and expanded the villa, decorating it extravagantly with the finest of artworks and materials, into a sprawling mansion with extensive landscaped grounds, to create a house and grounds of a size and grandeur with few rivals in Australia. After his death in 1907, his second wife Edith carried on with improvements, creating a house and grounds developed over 50 years. The attached mine also contributes to its significance, being one of the richest mines in Bendigo, and at one stage probably the deepest gold mine in the world at 3176 feet. The 1875 crushing works are attached directly to the mansion, and the mine's tailings and settling ponds (turned into ornamental lakes) represent a direct link between George Lansell's wealth and its source. Fortuna was compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth in 1942 as the Cartographic Headquarters of the Australian Survey Corps during World War II, and many ancillary structures were added while preserving the main house and ornamental grounds. Victorian Heritage Database Report https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/68334/download-reportConservation report for the Pompeii Fountain & Adjacent Structures at "Fortuna" Chum Street, Golden Square, Victoria. Prepared for Fortuna Historical Committee. March 1996.Halina Eckersley, Architect & Conservation Planner, Kewpompeii fountain, greenhouse, fortuna lake, gardens

Typed copy of recount by Albert Richardson of a fire at Unity Mine on Tuesday 8-10-1907. Report from the Bendigo Advertiser Wednesday October 9th 1907. Notes mention Fire Brigade, miners, how the fire started and how the men down the shaft escaped when the rope crash down the shaft. On the back is a handwritten carbon copy of notes titled Famous Gold Mines of Bendigo and Eaglehawk. Notes give yields of gold for alluvial and quartz mining. Deep Shafts in 1904 of which there were eleven with a depth of more than 3000 feet and 53 over 2000 feet and two which were more than 4000 feet. Wages for 1911 for Engine Drivers and Firemen and Boiler Attendants. Note on winding plants and air compressors.document, gold, ulster gold mining coy no liability, ulster gold mining company no liability, unity mine fire 8/10/1907, bendigo advertiser 9/10/1907, garden gully reef hotel, wm addicoat, louis pabst, edward morris, conrad inglefinger, edward fuller, frederick allen, wm whitford, mr jewell, carlisle mine, famous gold mines of bendigo and eaglehawk, new chum line, garden gully line, hustlers line, victoria quartz mine, new chum railway, mines report 1911 p15, albert richardson

Newspaper article titled' Goldfields' sketchbook. Article on book release ' Bendigo and Eastern Goldfields Sketchbook with Drawings by Unk White and text by John Bechervaise, first published 1970, 64 pages, hardback edition, $1.95. Extract from article ' our poppet-head sketch is of the Deborah superstructure, rising above a shaft 2017 feet deep, the site on Quarry Hill being easily accessible. The mine yielded 52,000 ounces of gold and in 1954 was one of the last three mines all on the Deborah line of reef, to close down'Bendigo Advertiser July 23rd 1970.bendigo, mining, gold discovery, 'bendigo advertiser