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

Black and white photograph of Old Chum Mine and New Chum Hill and Lansell's Fortuna with villa and lake. Lake in foreground.place, mining site, new chum

Black and white photograph, taken from the corner of Thistle and Chum Streets, Lansell's 'Fortuna' is in the background. Note is made of the following unusual features: 1. Poppet legs 125 feet high (tallest on the field) on the North side of Chum St; engine house on opposite side. 2. 'Cleopatra Needle' type square - sectioned chimney on left and mullock road, 65 feet from ground at landing brace, where quartz was trucked directly across to Lansell's crushing battery in his 'Fortuna' grounds.place, mining site, lansell's 222 mine

Produced by Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo. Describes grandeur of Fortuna and the vision and enterprise that saw the complex of mansion, gardens and mine buildings develop on the site. Twelve pagesArmy Survey Regimentbendigo, house, fortuna villa, fortuna, george lansell, ballerstedt, sandhurst, bendigo

'Messrs. George Phillips and Richard Williams erected a water wheel crushing machine near the site of the Old Albert shaft at Diamond Hill'. ( Bendigo Advertiser 4th June, 1890). The lack of water available for the venture from the water race caused much controversy in the following years. There was only enough water available in July 1890, to allow the company to operate three head of a ten head stamper. The site of the water wheel is still visible on the side of the water race at Diamond Hill. Mr. Geo Phillips held 1000 shares in the float of the Kangaroo Hydraulic Crushing & Gold Mining Company. He was one of the largest shareholders. (Victorian Government Gazette 72 Page 2260, 1893) Black and white photocopy. Image shows the Phillip's Water Wheel on Diamond Hill, Bendigo, date unknown but must be in 1890's. Three men and a dog standing in front of a weatherboard shed, brick chimney on side. Large water wheel on left hand side of image. Three images, 2008, showing former site of water wheel on channel, after heavy rain in district caused dry channel to run. mining, sandhurst, phillip's hydraulic waterwheel, stafford gold mine, diamond hill, george phillips, richard williams

Envelope containing 2 negatives. On outside of envelope 'Devonshire Group' Negatives show mine site. Negatives not scanned.bendigo, buildings, fortuna ?

Black and white photograph of mine site. Metal poppet head in centre, engine room buildings on LH side. Brick chimney extreme left. Large mullock/sand heap on RH side. Mine dam in foreground, three geese floating in water. In front of poppet head, horse drawn wooden cartbendigo, mining, hercules and energetic mine

Handwritten notes and typed copy of same, on the death of Mr Ernest Mueller. Extract from the Bendigo Advertiser July 25th 1910, Page 5. He purchased property on behalf of Mr G Lansell. One of his biggest transactions was in Mr Ballerstedt and Son's properties, the 180 Mine, the Fortuna Battery and equipment and house on the site where Fortuna Villa now stands, which he purchased on behalf of the late George Lansell for 30,000 pounds. He was well rewarded with good commissions. Albert Richardson Collection. gold, lansell's big 180 mine, lansell's big 180 mine, mr ernst mueller, bendigo advertiser july 25th 1910, ballerstedt & sons, fortuna battery, fortuna villa, mr george lansell, wittscherbie, mr dyason, mr carl ballerstedt, mr thodore ballerstedt

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

Victoria Hill is a mining site of international significance. It is situated on a fabulously rich line of reef, Victoria Hill boasted many successful mines, including Lansell's '180' and 'Victoria Quartz' once the deepest mine in the world.Victoria Hill, Bendigo Touris Brochure This item contains the following document: 11217.58a Brochure, describes "What is Victoria Hill, "Why Bendigo, What you can see" and the "Conservation of the hill". On the rear is a map and opening hours. Produced by the City of Greater Bendigo and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment 11217.58b Rear of brochure with mapnon-fictionbendigo, fortuna, victoria hill, lansell's 180, victoria quartz mine

Theodore Ballerstedt originally purchased the Fortuna site from the Crown in 1857. The firstimprovements at Fortuna were undertaken by the Ballerstedt family and consisted of a small mill and house. At the peak of the mining era (c.1860s) Fortuna was central to the deep alluvial gold mining operations of Bendigo. In 1871 Theodore Ballerstedt sold the house, mine and associated works to George Lansell 'The Quartz King'. During his time at Fortuna, Lansell owned 13 mines and directed a further 73 in Bendigo. The primary building on the site is the Fortuna Villa. With the wealth Lansell generated from gold mining he funded the continuous expansion of the Villa and surrounding grounds. The Villa is built in a number of architectural styles, namely Victorian Italianate and Victorian Free Classical, with Federation influences. The surrounding landscape featured up to seven decorative lakes in the early 1870s, including one larger lake which still remains today. The former lakes were originally used as disposal points for tailings produced in the gold processing activities at the site. Heritage investigations note that the uniqueness of Fortuna lies in the mixture of architectural styles of the Villa. The relationship between mining and domestic areas and the. close proximity of the two is considered rare to Australian domestic building of that time.Fortuna - Photos (Photo-copies) of Furnished Rooms This item contains the following 12 documents: 11217.76a Black and White photo of the Gymnasium, a man standing between the horizontal bars and another behind sitting on the exercise bench 11217.76b Black and White photo of a living room with chairs and small table 11217.76c Black and White photo of the conservatory with pot plants 11217.76d Black and White photo of a music room with piano, chairs and a coffee table 11217.76e Black and White photo of a bedroom with sofa, chair and iron framed bed 11217.76f Black and White photo of the games room complete with Billiard Table 11217.76g Black and White photo of the living room, the walls adorned with painting and photographs 11217.76h Black and White photo of the family bedroom, with a child's bed and a large four-poseter with curtains 11217.76i Black and White photo of possibly the function or ballroom 11217.76j Black and White photo of a small room or elcove for quiet conversations 11217.76k Black and White photo of the staircase and statue 11217.76l Black and White photo of the conservatorynon-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, fortuna furnishings

Theodore Ballerstedt originally purchased the Fortuna site from the Crown in 1857. The firstimprovements at Fortuna were undertaken by the Ballerstedt family and consisted of a small mill and house. At the peak of the mining era (c.1860s) Fortuna was central to the deep alluvial gold mining operations of Bendigo. In 1871 Theodore Ballerstedt sold the house, mine and associated works to George Lansell 'The Quartz King'. During his time at Fortuna, Lansell owned 13 mines and directed a further 73 in Bendigo. Fortuna was occupied by the Department of Defence from 1942 and was compulsorily acquired for Army use in 1957. Since that time Fortuna has been occupied by the Army and other various Defence organisations. During Defence's ownership, additional buildings were constructed and existing buildings were modified for re-use. In 1992 Defence purchased the adjoining undeveloped property, commonly known as the Bush Block. This parcel of land adjoins the main Fortuna landholding. It is approximately 0.8 hectares in size and is predominately covered in vegetation regrowth. Heritage investigations note that the uniqueness of Fortuna lies in the mixture of architectural styles of the Villa. The relationship between mining and domestic areas and the. close proximity of the two is considered rare to Australian domestic building of that time. The primary building on the site is the Fortuna Villa. With the wealth Lansell generated from gold mining he funded the continuous expansion of the Villa and surrounding grounds. The Villa is built in a number of architectural styles, namely Victorian Italianate and Victorian Free Classical, with Federation influences. The surrounding landscape featured up to seven decorative lakes in the early 1870s, including one larger lake which still remains today. The former lakes were originally used as disposal points for tailings produced in the gold processing activities at the site. Heritage investigations note that the uniqueness of Fortuna lies in the mixture of architectural styles of the Villa. The relationship between mining and domestic areas and the. close proximity of the two is considered rare to Australian domestic building of that time.Fortuna - Drawing Presented to Brian McLachlon This item contains the following documents: 11217.77a Six copies Black and White drawing by Jason Nickson (cleaner) presented to Brian McLachlon on his transfer to the USA. Drawing shows Brian on a motor bike being farewelled by the Fortuna Villa (holding a baby named DIGO) and welcomed by the Statue of Liberty and the US flagnon-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, jason nickson fortuna cleaner, brian mclochlon fortuna

Theodore Ballerstedt originally purchased the Fortuna site from the Crown in 1857. The firstimprovements at Fortuna were undertaken by the Ballerstedt family and consisted of a small mill and house. At the peak of the mining era (c.1860s) Fortuna was central to the deep alluvial gold mining operations of Bendigo. In 1871 Theodore Ballerstedt sold the house, mine and associated works to George Lansell 'The Quartz King'. During his time at Fortuna, Lansell owned 13 mines and directed a further 73 in Bendigo. Edith was George Lansell’s second wife. His first wife Bedelia was once George’s maid who later fell in love with him. However Bedelia could not handle the wealth, dignitaries or the pressure of George’s success and turned to the bottle which lead to her untimely death. Lansell's first marriage to Bedelia Mary Mulganney was troubled, marked by her alcoholism and early death, with her will contested by Lansell despite its modest value. Bedelia's death was lonely, with her death registered by an undertaker's assistant rather than family. Edith Lansell (née Bassford)Edith, from a respectable but financially struggling family, became Lansell's housekeeper and later his wife. Their relationship began before marriage, with Edith giving birth to their son shortly after their wedding. Lansell was significantly older than Edith, and their union was met with mixed reactions from family and the public. Edith was a strong woman, who raised six children and managed George’s affairs with great success after his death. Fortuna - Death Certificate of Edith Lansell This item contains the following documents: 11217.85a Part of Photo copy of The Death Certificate of Edith Lansell is from the State of Victoria. Edith, a widow lived in Inglewood Road, City of Bendigo. She died on March 12th 1934. She had lived for 46 years in Victoria. 11217.85b Part of Photo copy of The Death Certificate of Edith Lansell is from the State of Victoria. Edith, a widow lived in Inglewood Road, City of Bendigo. She died on March 12th 1934. She had lived for 46 years in Victoria.non-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, edith lansell, edith bassford