The Bendigo mayoral chain or chain of office was donated by George Lansell in 1893 and manufactured from local gold by F Prescott. The design of modern mayoral chains (also known as a livery collar) mimics the ancient gold collar of Esses worn by the Lord Mayor of London which was bequeathed to his successors by Sir John Aleyn (who died in 1545) and which has a large jewelled pendant added in 1607. Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livery_collarDesigned and manufactured by Mr. E. Prescott from 9ct Yellow Gold in 1893 and believed to be made from Bendigo gold, the Bendigo mayoral chain was conceived by Mr J.H. Abbott and created with financial assistance of Mr George Lansell the "Gold King" of Bendigo who contributed the central medallion. The 18 links which made up the original chain represented serving mayors to date and were gifted by ex mayors or their representatives. The main chain consists of 35 links of quatrefoil form with the name of each mayor and the years of their term engraved and filled with black enamel. Overtime, as the chain grew too long to wear, it was separated into two joining chains eventually consisting of another 34 link section, totaling 69 links. The monogram of each mayor in gold is placed in the centre of each link and the links are connected by filigree 9ct gold joining curbs, unique to this period. The engraved central 'drop' or medallion is an eight pointed form with the body being an irregular oval containing four projections and four recesses forming the eight points. The shield section depicts the Australian emblem in miniature above and larger central Bendigo Coat of Arms filled with coloured enamel. The reverse of the medallion bears Lansell's name and is inscribed with the following: / Bendigo gold field discovered in 1851/ proclaimed municipality of Sandhurst /1855 / and city 1871/ Named changed to City of Bendigo 1891, in honor of which event / Cr J. H. Abbott, M.L.C. / inaugurated the mayoral chain / and medallion was presented to the city council / by George Lansell, Esq / to whose implicit belief in the inexhaustible / nature of our gold resources and the idefatigable energy / in developing them Bendigo mainly owns its / present prosperity / June 1893 / W. Honeybone, Town Clerk /sandhurst, bendigo, mayor, mayoral chain, george lansell, prescott, abbott, blashki, council, 1893, city of greater bendigo ceremonial item

Large framed item. At the centre a photograph of the Bendigo Mayoral Chain designed and manufactured by F. Prescott, jeweller, Bendigo At the right a photo of George Lansell esq. and on the left a photo of J.H. Abbott esq. A list of Mayor is underneath the two photos, starting from the left J.F. Sullivan 1857, J.H. Abbott 1860, J.J. Casey 1861, R. Burrows 1862, G. Aspinall 1869, J. Boyd 1870, G. Aspinall 1873, J.A. Woodward 1874, H.Hattam 1876, E. Neil 1876, A. Bayne 1877, J.A. Woodward 1879, P. Hayes 1880, W.G. Jackson 1881, A. Harkness 1882, S.H. McGowan 1885, P. Hayes 1886, T.J. Connelly 1887, J. Cohn 1888, J.P. Carolin 1889, J,R. Hoskins 1890, J.H. Abbott 1891-92-95. Under the Mayoral chain the words: Bendigo gold fields discovered 1851. Proclaimed municipality of Sandhurst 1855 and city in 1871. Name changed to City of Bendigo in honor of which event cnr. J.H Abbott inaugurated the mayoral chain and the medallion was presented to the City Council by George Lansell esq. To whose implicit belief in the inextinguishable nature of our gold resource and the indefatigable energy in developing them Bendigo manly owes its present prosperity. July 1893, W. Honeybone Town Clerk and signed by F. Prescott.bendigo, council, mayoral chain, from dudley house stored at bendigo art gallery from 2000, returned to bhs 03/02/2023

(Seven paged) Notice Paper for Special Meeting (Bendigo City Council) 21/7/1971 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the City of Sandhurst. Three copies (7702.a - 7702.c) Includes 'Council Summons'; list of Members of Council; Agenda for Special Meeting; photographic copy of extract from the Victoria Government Gazette (21/7/1871); reproduction photos of Town Hall, 1871, Cr J Boyd first Mayor and Cr. N Oliver , current Mayor; list of Chairmen of the Municipality (1855-1863), Mayors of the Borough (1863-1870-, Mayors of the City of Sandhurst (1871-1891), Mayors of the City of Bendigo (1891- 1971), List of Town Clerks (1856- 1971); (formal) Notice of Motion.Combridge Pressbendigo, council, council meeting, list of council members, mayor cr. j. boyd, cr. norman joseph. oliver, lyttleton terrace, mayor's of city of sandhurst. mayor's of city of bendigo.

Bendigo Town Hall, Heritage Victoria ''A Goldfields Palace Blue Leaflet'' with coloured photographs and white text. Photographs courtesy of Westox Pty Ltd and the City of Greater Bendigo. 2002. Front page features the extensive work that would be undertaken for the restoration. A time line beginning 1851, gold discovered in Bendigo. 1854 German-born W. C. Vahland arrived in the colony. 1855 Town of Sandhurst (Bendigo) became a municipality. 1856 First Town Hall was a small timber building on View point. 1857 Vahland sets up his architectural practice with Robert Getzschmann. 1859 A new, two-storey Italianate Town hall designed by George Fletcher, Town Surveyor, was built. 1866-77 Two-storey extension added to the north of the building to house the council chamber. 1871-72 Addition of the Corn Exchange comprising two storeys and a basement to the north of the building. 1878-87 Major remodelling of the exterior and interior carried out to the designs of architect W. C. Vahland. The work comprised major extensions and the addition of three towers and mansard roof, reconstruction of the main stair, decorative plasterwork by Otto Waschatz (decorated Royal palace, Copenhagen), and council chamber painted by W. J. Straugher. 1902 Painting of the main hall by Coulter and Smith of Bendigo. 1913-15 Remodelling of offices. 1926 Replacement of main Hargreaves Street hall entrance, foyer and balcony with stage. 2000 Restoration works to the Town hall commence. The middle pages and the back show some of the conservation works that were required.bendigo, tourism, town hall restoration, 4-2000 www.heritage.vic.gov.au