This petition was a formal request signed by 2,626 citizens of Bendigo urging George Lansell, a local mining entrepreneur known as the "Quartz King" to return from London to help revitalise the local gold mining industry. By 1887, Bendigo's economy had declined. The petition was organised with a belief Lansell’s expertise and leadership were essential to "restore the good times" to the city.Leather bound, gold embossing on borders of cover and inside folder. Front text in gold print: 'presented to George Lansell Esq by the residents of Bendigo June 1887' Inside: illuminated address to George Lansell, London, imploring him to return to Bendigo ' Your long absence from Bendigo is keenly felt ..' Address written in black calligraphy surrounded by water colour flowers.person, individual, george lansell esq., lansell, george, fortuna, illuminated address

A copy of a colourful document presented to George Lansell, Esq. in grateful acknowledgement of his munificent liberality to the institution and the cause of charity in general. Sandhurst 24th August 1978. Markings 'Certificate of Life Member'organization, club/society, bendigo benevolent asylum

Fortuna Villa was owned from 1855 to 1871 by Christopher and Theodore Ballerstedt, Australia’s first mining magnates. In 1871 it was purchased by George Lansell (The Quartz King) being one of Australia’s most successful and adventurous nineteenth century gold mine owners and speculators. Lansell made numerous alterations extensions to the building and remained in the Lansell family until 1935plan for new entrance vestibule to Fortuna Villa for George Lansell Esq. coloured plan detailing new entrance vestibule and open recess across the verandah, and entry steps RHS of page damaged/ tornfortuna villa, geo.lansell esq., building plan, c & t ballerstedt

Fortuna Villa was owned from 1855 to 1871 by Christopher and Theodore Ballerstedt, Australia’s first mining magnates. In 1871 it was purchased by George Lansell (The Quartz King) being one of Australia’s most successful and adventurous nineteenth century gold mine owners and speculators. Lansell made numerous alterations extensions to the building and remained in the Lansell family until 1935Plan for the addition and necessary modifications of a staircase to Fortuna Villa, the residence of George Lansell Esq. Coloured plan Plan is damaged missing several sections on the LHS of the plan and has water damage in lower LH cornerfortuna villa, lansell, stair case

Fortuna Villa was owned from 1855 to 1871 by Christopher and Theodore Ballerstedt, Australia’s first mining magnates. In 1871 it was purchased by George Lansell (The Quartz King) being one of Australia’s most successful and adventurous nineteenth century gold mine owners and speculators. Lansell made numerous alterations extensions to the building and remained in the Lansell family until 1935Plan for the addition of a four level staircase to the Garden Elevation of Fortuna Villa for George Lansell Esq. Plan shows: * Four levels of the staircase cobstructiob - Ground, Principal, First & Second levels of the staircase tower, with viewing walk at the second level * Entrance & garden elevations section showing exterior of the four level additionfortuna villa, george lansell, c & t ballerstedt, building plans

Fortuna Villa was owned from 1855 to 1871 by Christopher and Theodore Ballerstedt, Australia’s first mining magnates. In 1871 it was purchased by George Lansell (The Quartz King) being one of Australia’s most successful and adventurous nineteenth century gold mine owners and speculators. Lansell made numerous alterations extensions to the building and remained in the Lansell family until 1935Plan shows front and side elevations only for the addition of a two storey lacework verandah to Fortuna Villa for George Lansell Esq. Black ink hand drawn plan for verandah elevations Plan badly damaged with water damage, flocking, tears and a hole in the paper plan. Hand drawn additions to the plan with pencilbendigo fortuna villa, george lansell

Fortuna Villa was owned from 1855 to 1871 by Christopher and Theodore Ballerstedt, Australia’s first mining magnates. In 1871 it was purchased by George Lansell (The Quartz King) being one of Australia’s most successful and adventurous nineteenth century gold mine owners and speculators. Lansell made numerous alterations and extensions to the building and it remained in the Lansell family until 1935.Plan for four level staircase tower to the Garden Elevation of Fortuna Villa, Sandhurst for George Lansell Esq. Plan details: * Plan shows ground, First, second and third floor plans for the staircase construction * First and second floor house plans and location of staircase addition * Front and Garden elevations with staircase addition Plan coloured and damaged on LHS, also with water damagebendigo fortuna villa, george lansell, building plans, c & t ballerstedt

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

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 spanning years 1862 - 1988. 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

Dark green hardcover register, buff binding on spine and corners, two hundred and seventy pages. 'Minute Book' written in gold print on spine of book. Written in blue pen on inside front page: ' The Great Columbian Mining Company No Liability' Minutes entered date from 30th March 1904 to 6th September 1911. Minutes signed by James Hedley. Documents inserted in minute book, additional to minute content: 1. List of unpresented cheques (no date on list) 2. Petition by John William Allen, Manager, Bank of Victoria, View Street, Bendigo to 'wind up' the Great Columbian Mining Co. Dated 18th September, 1911. 3. From Great Columbian Mining Co., Inglewood, Butler and Sons account 4. List of Great Columbian Mining Company N.L. shareholders 5. Mine Manager's Report half year ending 6th September 1911 6. Directors' Report, 6th September 1911 7. Two letters from Fred. Douglas Jones, Barrister and Solicitor, Albion Chambers, Bendigo regarding cheques 'being returned unpaid' by Bank 8. Judgement from County Court Bendigo, 19th September, 1911, against the Great Columbian Mining Company, defendant. Plaintiffs, George Victor Lansell; George Wooten Lansell and Richard Hartley Smith Abbott 9. McColl and Rankin, Legal Managers, Accountants, invoice to Great Columbian Mining Co., 31st December 1911. 10. Letter, J. Stagg, Inglewood to McColl and Rankin, re settling up of accounts for the Great Columbian Mining Co., Inglewood 11. Great Columbian liquidation, Ingleoowd, Feb 19th. 1912 to R.A. Rankin Esq., re sale catalogue articles. Enclosed Mr. Butters charge for hire of horse and dray ((not in book) Signed J. Cavanaugh 12. Invoice from McColl and Rankin to the Great Columbian Co., for cash advances, 31st December 1912 13. Great Columbian Mining Co., statement of having received 'one receiver and mountings in good condition' signed McCulloch Carrying co., L. Lee, 5/2/12 14. Account Richard Linton, Manufacturers Agent, Queen Bridge Square, Melbourne to Great Columbian Mining Co., Inglewoodbendigo, mccoll and rankin, margaret roberts, great columbian mining company, inglewood,

Fortuna Villa was owned from 1855 to 1871 by Christopher and Theodore Ballerstedt, Australia’s first mining magnates. In 1871 it was purchased by George Lansell (The Quartz King) being one of Australia’s most successful and adventurous nineteenth century gold mine owners and speculators. Lansell made numerous alterations and extensions to the building and it remained in the Lansell family until 1935. Plan for construction of Fortuna Villa, Sandhurst Title: Garden Front, Fortuna Villa, Sandhurst for G. Lansell Esq. Dated: 3rd July 1871 Coloured plan and elevation Condition: water damage and paper tearsfortuna villa, george lansell, c & t ballerstedt, building plans

A cut glass and embossed sterling silver serving dish (known as an epergne) presented to Mrs. Mary Williams at a banquet held at Knuckey's California Gully Hotel in October 1889. The banquet was held to honour Mr. Richard Williams, who had been the Mine Manager of the Johnson's Reef Gold Mines for the past 24 years. Mrs. Mary Williams (nee Thomas) was born in St. Austell, Cornwall in 1830. She migrated to Australia with her husband in two children in 1857, arriving on the 21st December on the 'Shakespeare'. The family lived in California Gully. Richard Williams was a mine manager, firstly for George Lansell and then for thirty seven years at the Johnson's Reef Gold Mines. Mary received the epergne at a presentation banquet for her husband in October 1889. She received the accolade as 'she was a kind and charitable lady, a genuine wife and a good mother'. Transcript of address presented to Mr. R. Williams, Mine Manager, Johnson’s Reef Gold Mines, Bendigo at a banquet held at Knuckey’s California Gully Hotel, California Gully, Bendigo. Description of presentation of epergne to Mrs. Mary Williams at the same function. “To Richard Williams, Esq., J.P., Fenton Gove, California Gully. Dear Sir, We, the undersigned, on behalf of the employees of the Johnson's Reef Gold Mines Company, California Gully, Bendigo, desire to place on record the very high esteem which we have always entertained for you in your responsible position of General Manager of the above company for the past 24 years. During the whole of that time the relations which have existed between you and those under your supervision have been of the harmonious kind. You were ever ready to appreciate and acknowledge our efforts in carrying out your orders, thus making it a pleasure for us to possess your confidence and to give satisfaction to our employers. We trust that you may long continue to maintain the position which you now occupy, feeling assured that in the future, as in the past, you will render faithful service to the company whom your instructions represent, and that we, by our efforts in following your instructions may succeed in retaining the good feeling which has hitherto existed between us. In presenting you with this small token of our esteem, we sincerely trust that Mrs. Willliams and yourself may be long spared amongst us to continue in the good works in which you are so thoroughly appreciated by those with whom you are intimately connected. With every feeling of respect to yourself and family, we subscribe ourselves, George Roberts, Andrew Leahy, Robt. Thomas, Geo. Smith, John Holt, Henry Tonkin, and 220 others. The chairman then presented Mr. Williams with a very handsome diamond locket, manufactured at the establishment of Mr. J. Moody. The large gathering of employees that night showed a genuine feeling of gratitude for past kindness, and was a means of keeping up the kindly feelings which always ought to exist between employers and employees. Much what is said with regard to there being no gratitude among workmen was false, as gratitude will be shown where fair play is given, which could always be relied on from a large-hearted man like Mr. Williams, was received with loud applause”. ‘Banquet to a Mining Manager’ Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), Tuesday 29 October 1889, page 3 The epergne comprises of a silver and mirrored glass base, a decorative silver centrepiece, a cut glass bowl with a conical base, and a small silver plaque. The silver centrepiece features two twining palm trees with a stag deer at the base. Epergne is from the Tui Mitchell Collection. Separate shield shaped silver coloured plaque.Presented to Mrs. R Williams By Her Friends As a slight token of esteem California Gully. October 28/89epergne, tui mitchell collection, richard williams, mary williams, california gully, knuckey's california gully hotel, johnson's reef gold mines

Plan drawn in red and black ink on waxed paper. On top of plan 'Details of Balcony and Verandah for G. Lansell Esq' written in black pen cursive script. Other detail labelled 'Principal Cornice of Balcony'. On bottom of plan stamped in purple ink: Vahland & Getzschmann, Architects, Sandhurst'.bendigo, house, fortuna villa

Plan drawn in red and blue ink, on wax paper. Line drawing, on top 'Details of Balcony & Verandah for G. Lansell Esq' written in black cursive script. Other detail written and labelled Principal Cornice, Rail Under Frieze, Handrail. On bottom of plan purple stamp 'Vahland & Getzschmann, Architect, Sandhurst'.bendigo, house, fortuna villa

Architect of Fortuna Villa Carl William Vahland was born in 1828 in Nienburg an der Weser, Germany. He trained at the prestigious Polytechnic Baugewerkschule in Holzminden, excelling in building and architecture. Emigrated to Melbourne in 1854, motivated by political unrest in Germany and the lure of the goldfields. Quickly he moved to Bendigo, joining other German migrants who contributed significantly to the region. Early Initially worked as a carpenter, then established himself as an architect in Bendigo by 1856. He Formed partnerships with other German architects, notably Robert Getzschmann and later his son Henry.Major. He Designed many of Bendigo’s most prominent buildings, including the Town Hall, Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo Hospital, Benevolent Asylum, School of Mines, Mechanics Institute, Princess Theatre, Masonic Temple, Alexandra Fountain, and several banks and churches. His firm also worked in other Victorian towns and opened an office in Echuca. Favored French Renaissance and Hellenistic Greek styles, influenced by German architectural trends. He Married Jane Barrow in 1859; they had ten children, though three died young. Became a naturalized Australian and anglicized his name to William Vahland. He Owned and developed the Charterhouse estate and vineyard at Runnymede, exporting award-winning wine to Europe. Justice of the Peace for over 40 years, city councillor, and mayor of Bendigo. Held leadership roles in the fire brigade, German Association, Bendigo Mutual Permanent Land and Building Society, and other local organizations. Active Freemason and published a book on freemasonry in Bendigo. Retired in 1900, briefly returned to the firm after his son’s death, and finally retired in 1912. Died in 1915 at age 87; his funeral was attended by many prominent citizens, and flags were flown at half-mast in his honor. William Vahland’s legacy is seen in Bendigo’s architectural heritage and his broad contributions to the city’s civic, cultural, and economic life.Fortuna Article - Plans of the Villa 1871 This item contains the following documents: 11217.81a Plan Garden Front for G. Lansell Esq. - 1 A4 Sheet 11217.81b Plan Facade 2 - 1 A4 Sheet 11217.81c Plan Facade 6 - 1 A4 Sheet 11217.81d Plan Garden Elevation and plan of Ground Floor and Second Floor with Section on line xx - 1 A4 Sheet 11217.81e Plan Basement and ground floor- 1 A4 Sheet 11217.81f Plan Basement and ground floor - 1 A3 Sheet - stamped with William C Vahland Architect Sandhurstnon-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, william vahland