Historical information

Defence Site Fortuna is a 7.5-hectare property located on the northern side of Chum Street at Golden Square, Bendigo, Victoria. The main building is Fortuna Villa, with additional structures including two accommodation buildings, a former mess building, storage buildings, and a parade ground. The property is owned by the Department of Defence.

It was most recently used by the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO), which relocated in October 2008.The site is now surplus to Defence requirements, and investigations into its heritage and environmental values are underway to inform future disposal plans.

Fortuna was historically significant in Bendigo's deep alluvial gold mining operations.The site was purchased from the Crown in 1857 by Theodore Ballerstedt and his father, Christopher, who arrived in Bendigo in 1853 from California.

Physical description

Fortuna - Informatiopn Tourist Brochures

This item contains the following documents:

11217.57a Four page colour brochure "Introducing the Defense Sire Fortuna - Centre pages contain a map of the site with prominant features. Also parts of the back page describe " What is Happening at Fortuna"; significant values of the site and determination of disposal from the Defence Department.

11217.57b Four copies of A4 size coloured brochure, two-sided, tri-fold produced by the Villa Fortuna action Group

11217.57c A4 size coloured brochure, two-sided, tri-fold produced by the Bendigo Tourism Inc. Advertises two hour conductd and group tours

11217.57d Two copies of one page brochure advertiing guided tours

Publication type

non-fiction