Historical information

Built in 1856 by J.T.C. Balderstedt as an eight-room, two-storey red brick house near the New Chum gold reef. Extended in 1869 with a three-room gabled wing. Surrounded by ornate gardens and a masonry wall, overlooking gold mining operations.

Purchased by George Lansell in 1871 for 20,000 pounds. Lansell made significant additions and modifications; he died in 1906. By 1938, the property was in disrepair but avoided demolition.In 1942, the Australian military sought a secure location for map printing and storage north of the Great Dividing Range. The Commonwealth acquired a lease on Fortuna, and Army tradesmen made alterations.

Major Sari and 150 men arrived in June 1942. The Australian Survey Corps and Women's Army Corps produced classified mapping documents during World War II. Purchased by the Commonwealth Government in 1951. The Royal Australian Survey Corps was disbanded in 1996.D efence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO) was established in 2000 in Canberra and Bendigo to provide geospatial intelligence for defence.In 2004, it was announced that DIGO operations would remain in Bendigo but move from Fortuna.

The Department of Defence plans to vacate Fortuna, with its future use undecided.

Physical description

History Lives Article - "Historic Building has Varied Past" - The Bendigo Weekly Friday Jul 25 2008
This item contains the following:

11217.15a Colour Photo of Fortuna Long Room

11217.15b Colour Photo of Fortuna Staircase

11217.15c Colour Photo of Fortuna Steps and Entrance

11217.15d Part of page 7 - Fortuna Refit Not an Easy Option

11217.15e Colour Photo of Fortuna Bathroom

11217.15f Colour Photo of Fortuna Entrance Path

Publication type

non-fiction