Newspaper article post war about production during the war years at Fortuna. A photograph of FortunaNewspaper article cut out from a Bendigo Newspaper, yellowed paper Two articles, 1. A Bendigo War Establishment 2. Carto Men do great war job at Fortuna Mansion No credits to authors, No date of publication or page number, No identification of Newspaper. Believed to be from the Bendigo Advertiser c. 1945army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, royal australian survey corps, rasvy, asr

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

Event, Demolition Auction Sale of the Magnificent Brick Mansion Home ''Fortuna''.Under instructions from Bendigo Mines No Liability on Wednesday and Thursday, 29th and 30th June, 1938.Commencing at 10.30 a.m. Sharp each day on the Property.J.H.Curnow & Son, Auctioneers Mitchell Street, Bendigo. On reverse is ''Fortuna'' pictured.event, official, fortuna auction

Slide. Bendigo Street Views & Fortuna. Fortuna Lake with the Fortuna Mansion in the background.slide, bendigo, bendigo street views & fortuna., bendigo street views & fortuna.

Colour photo of exterior of Fortuna Villa, showing spire on LH side, section of main dwelling on LH side. On rear ' Fortuna Mansion Bendigo 1990'bendigo, house, fortuna villa

Typed copy of notes on Victoria Hill, Ironbark and New Chum Hill - An Historic Landmark. Notes include locality, some of the early mines, their depth, gold produced, dividends paid, vertical winding engine and crushing battery. Mines mentioned are: Rae's, Wittscheibe and Company 'Jeweler's Shop', the Advance, Cinderella Mine, Lansell's 180, North Old Chum, Victoria Quartz, Burrowes and Sterry's, Lazarus' Claim, Gibbs and Lazarus, Bonatti's, Menzies, Hildebrandt and Kock's, Ellesmere, Old Chum, New Chum and Victoria, New Chum United, New Chum Consolidated and the Garibaldi.document, gold, victoria hill, victoria hill ironbark, rae's, wittscheibe and company 'jeweller's shop', hopetoun band room, advance, cinderella mine, geo lansell, lansell's 180, new chum hill, fortuna mansion, new chum drainage association, north old chum, b c v 8 television studio, royal survey regiment, burrowes and sterry, lazarus claim, gibbs and lazarus, bonatti's, menzies, hildebrandt and kock's, ellesmere, old chum, p m g repeater station, ballerstedt, mr geo lansell, new chum and victoria, phoenix, mt alvernia hospital, new chum united, new chum consolidated, garibaldi, mr clarke magee

Black and white photograph showing lake by 'Fortuna'. The mansion owned by Ballestredt and later, Lansell families. View shows willowed margins and wind-driven construction on lake surface. Inscriptions: Top RH corner face of mount. MP 213. Stamped in circle on back: 'Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'. Top RH corner on back 'MP 213' printed in clack ink. Written in blue ink 'Main Lake at Fortuna'. History of object: Previous Acc. No. 'MP 213'.cottage, miners

PROPERTY MARKET Fortuna, Bendigo The Bendigo mansion property, Fortuna, for many years the home of the late Mr George Lansell, will again be offered for sale by auction. Some few years ago the property was purchased by Gold Mines of Australia Ltd., and it was used for a time for the offices of Bendigo Mines N.L. The company now has no further use for the building. As a last effort to retain this historic 52-room mansion, it will be offered as it now stands, with the spacious grounds which contain three lakes, a terrace, a rose garden, a swimming-pool, and a Roman fountain. It is hoped that it may be purchased by some organisation for use as a school, hospital, or other institution. If a sale is not effected the building will be sold immediately for demolition. This should arouse much interest as it con-tains many cedar and mahogany fittings, parquetry floors, central heating and hot-water plants. The auction sale will be held within the next few weeks by J H Curnow and Son of Little Collins street and Bendigo. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11158857?searchTerm=fortuna%20auction%20sale Demolition Auction Sale Flyer for Fortuna under instructions from Bendigo Mines. Dated 29th and 30th June 1930. Auctioneers J H Curnow and Son. Black ink on yellow paper.fortuna villa, auction, bendigo mines

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2000. Fortuna villa: originally a resplendent villa of two storeys comprising six rooms in the ground floor and five on the second. It was situated beside the New Chum line of reef and was of 350 square metres. In 1887 Fortuna was enlarged with the addition of a mansard between the billiard and music rooms. The entrance hall was demolished and replaced with the hall which stands today. Work continued until 1904 by which time Fortuna was three storeys high. The building was befitting any prince, and soon became an entertainment centre for notable visitors to Bendigo. The spacious gardens adorned with a Pompeii-style fountain and three lakes made Fortuna an idyllic mansion. The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

This is a set of 17 photographs taken during the first year of Army occupation at Fortuna, Bendigo in 1942. The photos provide an insight into the preparatory work performed on the Fortuna Villa and surrounding buildings, by the Working Party 5th Army Troop and Ordnance Training Depot, before its occupation by personnel from LHQ Cartographic Company, Royal Australian Survey Corps. The annotation on the back of Photos .9P and .10P is misspelt. The correct spelling is ‘Nell Gwynne’. The poppet head of the Central Nell Gwynne mine is still an iconic landmark in Bendigo, lying just down the road from the poppet head lookout at Victoria Hill. The Central Nell Gwynne was the premier mine of Bendigo's 1930s mining revival and is of high historical value, due to the extensive and relatively intact features which remain at the site. The annotation on the back of Photo .17P is incorrect. The location of HQ 5th Army Troop was ‘Reynard St, Coburg.’ By late 1941 as Japan extended its control throughout Indo-China, resolving the accommodation problem of AHQ Cartographic Company located in Melbourne became more urgent. The steady Japanese advance made the bombing of Melbourne no longer a remote possibility, and in accordance with a general policy of dispersion, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sidney Rowell instructed Major William Sarll, in the interests of security of plant and to provide against possible damage of air attack, to investigate suitable safer inland accommodation for AHQ Cartographic Company. Major Sarll inspected many properties before finding one that would meet the requirements of the Cartographic Company. In late 1941, he came to inspect Fortuna, a rambling old mansion with about fifteen acres of ground in central Bendigo. Initially there was no intention to occupy the site beyond the end of the war, although Major Sarll's report to the Director of Survey noted many advantages in moving the Company to Bendigo. Major General Rowell quickly approved the selection of Fortuna before other authorities, which were investigating the evacuation of school children, could get in ahead of the Cartographic Company. On 23 March 1942, the Commonwealth of Australia, under the provisions of the National Security Act of 1939, took possession of the house, the old battery buildings and the fifteen acres of grounds. Under Warrant Officer J. Trist’s direction, over fifty Parks and Works tradesmen completed building works necessary to accommodate the Survey Corps’ military, map making and printing requirements. The building program was still under way when the first officer, Lieutenant Ralph Westgarth, arrived in May 1942 with the advance party which received and positioned all equipment as it came up from Melbourne in semi-trailers. Once the equipment was installed the rest of the Cartographic Company completed its shift to Bendigo by 11th June 1942. The first year of the Survey Corps’ occupation of Fortuna is covered in more detail with additional historic photographs, in pages 17-22 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a set of 17 photographs taken during the first year of Army Occupation at Fortuna, Bendigo in 1942. The black and white photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Bendigo Parks and Works tradesmen at Fortuna. L to R: Cliff Day, Ernie Arnold, Norm? .2) - Photo, black & white, 1942. “Don” - possibly SGT Don Sutcliffe. Fortuna, Bendigo. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Parks and Works tradesmen in garden at Fortuna, Bendigo. L to R: Fred & Ernie. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Benny Jack Williams at Fortuna, Bendigo. Accommodation tents were erected above the lake, which later became the parade ground. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Working dress - Giggle suits. Parks and Works tradesmen at Fortuna, Bendigo. L to R: Cliff and Harry on big roof. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Parks and Works tradesmen at Fortuna, Bendigo. Ted on big roof. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Gold crusher battery just behind Fortuna. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Scene of Bendigo from Fortuna. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Nell Gwynne Mine from mullock heap at Victoria Hill near Fortuna, Bendigo. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Nell Gwynne Mine and crusher near Fortuna, Bendigo. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Sluicing for gold at Eaglehawk. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo taken from the far side of tennis courts. .13) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo & its reflection from across the lake. .14) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo from the fishpond. .15) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Fortuna, Bendigo. .16) - Photo, black & white, 1942. First Fortuna Football Team at unknown location. L to R: 5th Bob Wright, 11th SGT Don Sutcliffe. .17) - Photo, black & white, 1942. Working Party from 5th Army Troop and Ordnance Training Depot at Fortuna, Bendigo.Some personnel are identified. Annotated with date within photos. .1) – Annotated on back ‘Cliff, Ernie, Norm, Dec ‘42. Cliff Day - dairy farmer, plasterers’ labourer. Ernie Arnold – hard plasterer. Norm? - QM Store for tools etc. QM Store was the Stables.’ .2) - Annotated on back ‘Don. Fortuna 1942’ .3) - Annotated on back ‘Fred & Ernie. Dec 1942. Carpenters. Note the state of the gardens.’ .4) - Annotated on back ‘Benny Jack Williams Fortuna Bendigo. Tents were erected where present day parade ground is above the lake.’ .5) - Annotated on back ‘Working dress - Giggle suits. June 42. Cliff and Harry on big roof. This photo was taken as the ventilating ridge was being installed on the building housing the printing machines. The machines were installed later by civilian labour when building was complete.’ .6) - Annotated on back ‘Ted on big roof Fortuna Bendigo.’ .7) - Annotated on back ‘Gold crusher battery – Bendigo for slay heap – 1942. 12 stamp battery. Just behind Fortuna. Was working at night when the “Army” came to Bendigo. Later removed to “Coolgardie - WA. Present site of Southern Cross TV.’ .8) - Annotated on back ‘Scene of Bendigo from Fortuna. June 1942.’ .9) - Annotated on back ‘Nell Gwyne Mine from mullock heap (Victoria Hill) Sept 1942.’ .10) - Annotated on back ‘Nell Gwyne Mine and crusher September 1942.’ .11) - Annotated on back ‘Sluicing for gold at Eaglehawk. August 1942.’ .12) - Annotated on back ‘Fortuna Bendigo 1942. Taken from far side of tennis courts.’ .13) - Annotated on back ‘ “Fortuna” across the lake & reflection.’ .14) - Annotated on back ‘Fortuna from fishpond June 1942.’ .15) - Annotated on back ‘Fortuna Dec 1942.’ .16) - Annotated on front ‘X’ x2. Annotated on back First Fortuna Football Team 1942‘Bob Wright’, ‘SGT Don Sutcliffe’. .17) - Annotated ‘Working Party at Fortuna before one of the drafts’, Working Party 5th Army Troop and Ordnance Training Depot Showgrounds, now the Sportsground Bendigo’, ‘HQ of 5th Army Troop was Reynards Rd, Coburg.’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

Army Headquarters Survey Regiment, Bendigo. Public Inspection at 'Fortuna', 10 May 1964. Donation 2/-. Includes photos of the Entrance Hall, Music Room and Villa. 3 army photos. In 1942 the mansion was occupied by the Australian Survey Corps and 'Fortuna' became the site of the base map production plant of the Australian Army for the remainder of the war years. During this period approximately sixteen million maps of Australian Territories and theatres of operation in the South West Pacific Area, were produced for use by the Allied Services. This function was continued as a peace time role in the post war years, and in 1951 ''Fortuna'' was purchased by the Commonwealth Government. As the largest unit of the Royal Australian Survey Corps, AHQ Survey Regiment carries out mapping in all parts of the Commonwealth and Territories including Papua and New Guinea. The Regiment is not only capable of doing its own field surveys but is responsible for the drawing and printing of map compilations from Royal Australian Survey Corps units in all States. . . . Includes map of grounds.buildings, residential, fortuna villa, army headquarters survey regiment, bendigo. public inspection at 'fortuna', 1964. photos of the entrance hall, music room and villa. mansion was occupied by australian survey corps and 'fortuna' site of the base map production plant australian army war. sixteen million maps australian territories and theatres of operation in the south west pacific area, were produced for use by the allied services. 1951 ''fortuna'' was purchased by the commonwealth government. royal australian survey corps, ahq survey regiment mapping commonwealth and territories including papua and new guinea. royal australian survey corps units in all states. map of grounds

Colour photograph. Lake. Mansion. Balcony iron fretwork. Trees. People on Lawn. Lily pads. Palm tree. Blue spruce tree in centre. Fortuna (?) written on back of photo.photo, garden, fortuna

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

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

This is a collection of seven photographs of Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) personnel posted to the Army Headquarters Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo circa 1957 to 1964. After the disbandment of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) in 1947 there was only one or two of civilian women in administrative positions at Fortuna. In February 1957 female positions from the disbanded Southern Command Field Survey Section in Melbourne were transferred to newly established positions at the Army Headquarters Survey Regiment, Bendigo. They were accommodated at the newly acquired ‘Turriff’ mansion in Carpenter Street, Bendigo. Their first Officer Commanding (OC) was CAPT Beryl Perry from 1957 to September 1960. Her replacement as OC was CAPT Carol Castor who served in several positions up to June 1967. The main areas of employment in these early days were in administrative positions, draughting in and retouching in Lithographic Squadron. WO2 MA McLaren was the female to reach the rank of WO2 as a Cartographic Squadron section commander in June 1961. WO1 Marj Knight served at Fortuna from 1959 to 1978 was the first female to reach the rank of WO1. WO1 Knight served in the senior Squadron Sergeant-Major and Technical Warrant Officer positions of Cartographic Squadron. She was also the first female PMC of the Army Survey Regiment SGT’s Mess. The WRAAC uniform seen in this collection was replaced in 1979. As the Australian Army implemented the disbandment of the WRAAC as a separate corps in 1980, WRAAC personnel posted to Royal Australian Survey Corps units were integrated into RA Svy.This is a collection of seven photographs of Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) personnel posted to the Army Headquarters Survey Regiment, Fortuna Bendigo circa 1957 to 1964. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, c1957. Back row – unidentified personnel, Front row – centre: CAPT Beryl Perry, unidentified personnel. .2) - Photo, black & white, c1958. Back row – unidentified personnel, Front row L to R: unidentified, SGT Margaret McLaren, CAPT Beryl Perry, unidentified (x2). .3) - Photo, black & white 1959. Back row – L to R: PTE Gwen Hill, PTE Hilary Clarkson, PTE Helen Paisley, PTE Pam Carseldine, PTE Margaret Ross, PTE Barbara Minto, PTE Margaret Taylor. Front row L to R: PTE Barbara Hawkin, PTE Joan Murray, SGT Margaret McLaren, CAPT Carol Castor, CPL Jenny Murray, CPL Julie Williams, PTE Phillipa Bowman. .4) - Photo, black & white, October 1963. L to R: WO2 Margaret McLaren, PTE Kay Brown, CAPT Carol Castor, PTE Helen Pasley, PTE Bev Madex, CPL Marj Knight. .5) - Photo, black & white, October 1963. L to R: PTE Bev Madex, PTE Helen Pasley, PTE Kay Brown, WO2 MA McLaren, CPL Marj Knight. .6) - Photo, black & white, August 1963. Back row – L to R: PTE Hollingsworth, PTE GM Hill, PTE PE Sykes, PTE Nola Strawbridge, PTE Jan Cruickshank, PTE Margaret Taylor, PTE Prescott, PTE RR Hutton, PTE BJ Madex, PTE BM Fuhrmann, PTE Cockburn. Front row – L to R: PTE NA Falot, LCPL JA Hurst, SGT Marj Knight, CAPT Carol Caster, CPL Jennifer Murray, LCPL A Burrows, unidentified. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1964. Back row – L to R: PTE Dianne Fowler, PTE Leslie Mortimer, PTE Marlene Penglase, PTE Marg Cooper, PTE Irene Rankins, PTE Elaine Veith, PTE Lyn Ireland, PTE Marg Murphy, PTE Nola Downes, PTE Joan Lawler, PTE Henni Schunck. Front row – L to R: PTE Loretta Hall, LCPL Jo McNamara, SGT Marj Knight, CAPT Carol Caster, CPL Nola Strawbridge, PTE Mary McHugh, PTE Kalen Sargent..1P to .3P, .7P - no annotation, .4P to .6P - Personnel (surnames, no rank) annotated on back.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, wraac

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