Wootton Lansell was a sailor born in Kent, England in 1825. after travelling to Nova Scotia and the Californian goldfields, Wootton arrived in Australia in 1850. For 18 months he worked as a mounted trooper in Adelaide before coming to Bendigo in 1850. He also spent time on the Ovens goldfields before returning to Adelaide for three months. He returned to Bendigo in 1854 and had some success in his hunt for gold before working as a carpenter. In 1854 he married Helen Hall He invited his brothers, George and William to join him in Bendigo and they initially set up a butchery, soap and candlemakers business in View point. George went on to become the "King of Quartz Mining'. Wootton eventually became a farmer at Leichardt, where he built "Myrtle Villa", but retained his interest in mining becoming a director of many mining and dredging companies. He died 14/12/1907.Bendigo Advertiser from Saturday November 29,1969. Article titled "Wootton Lansell built this house by Toora. In it the author details the life of Wootton Lansell and the building of Myrtle Villa.In red pen at top: 29-11-69lansell, myrtle villa, bendigo houses

''Wooton Lansell built this house …'' (Bendigo Advertiser 29/11/1969); Article about 'Myrtle Villa'. Mention also of George Lansell; William Lansell. .Bendigo Advertiserbendigo, house, mytle villa, wooton lansell, myrtle villa