Site History

Fortuna was once central to the deep alluvial gold mining operations of Bendigo.

Theodore Ballerstedt and his father, Christopher, arrived in Sandhurst (Bendigo) in 1853 from the goldfields of California and purchased the site from the Crown in 1857. In 1858, Ballerstedt made improvements including a small mill and house. In 1869, he tendered for a two-storey addition to Fortuna. Around the same period, the stables, billiard room, a lookout tower and Roman baths were constructed. In 1871 Ballerstedt sold the house, mine and associated works to George Lansell.

At the peak of the mining era, Fortuna was owned by ‘The Quartz King’, George Lansell. During his time at Fortuna, Lansell owned 13 mines and directed a further 73 mines.

The wealth Lansell generated from the mines funded the continuous expansion of the mansion and grounds. The mansion was built in a number of architectural styles, namely Victorian Italianate and Victorian Free Classical, with Federation influences. The landscape featured up to seven ornamental lakes in the early 1870s, including the larger lake which remains today.

It is understood that the lakes were originally used as disposal points for tailings produced in the gold processing activities at the site. A rose garden and (scale replica) Pompeii fountain were also added to the grounds at this time.

From 1942 to 1986 the Army occupied the site. During this period, additional buildings were constructed and existing buildings were modified for re-use. One of the more notable changes to the landscape included the filling of six of the seven ornamental lakes to create recreational areas.

DIGO occupied the site from 1986, using it for various photographic processing and printing purposes, including the storage and use of photographic chemicals. The Army accommodation buildings and reproduction buildings (to the west) have remained inactive for most of this period.