Fortuna Villa
B&B/Guesthouse Bendigo
Check In: 15:00|Check Out: 10:30
One of Australia's wealthiest mining magnates, George Lansell made his wealth from the New Chum reef and built his mansion on the top of it.
Description
Guests now have the chance to stay at Fortuna Villa with nine suites to choose from. Each suite is unique with layout and furnishings but all grand in size and beautifully refurbished to their former glory.
22-48 Chum Street, Bendigo Victoria 3550, Australia
Directions
From the Calder Highway (Melbourne) turn left into Oak Street (at Caltex Service Station). Follow the road around to the next traffic lights, go straight through and continue around the bend then travel 1km up the hill. Turn right into Chum Street, keep driving until you reach the roundabout, take the second exit, our entrance is the next driveway on the left. From the North (Midland Highway) travel through the centre of town past the Alexander Fountain and turn right into Don Street (Beechworth Bakery on the corner). At the next set of traffic lights turn left into Barnard Street. Barnard Street continues into Chum Street. We are located on the right side across from Bendigo Day Surgery.
Plenty of car parking available on site.
Map
The Annie Lansell Room
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 2
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 2
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Large room with King bed and ensuite. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine. Edith Fortuna Lansell’s Bedroom (Daughter of George and Edith - mostly referred to as Annie). The ensuite and fire nook was once the main communication room for any Australian military action and had a false ceiling that housed alarms of top-secret proportion. The wardrobe is an original Fortuna Villa piece of furniture and the etched glass in the ensuite must be seen to be believed.
The Dame Nellie Melba Room
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 2
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 2
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Large room with Queen bed and ensuite. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine. It was originally known as the Keyhole room when the Banks Family purchased it as they had no history to it. They have since found out that Prince Edward stayed in this room in 1917 when he came to thank the Australian people for their participation in the first world war. This room is known as the Dame Nellie Melba Room as she was a regular visitor to Fortuna. The original bath is now a museum piece. You will notice its lovely marble features and other elements that were way before their time. Prime Ministers and Governor Generals have stayed in this room and now it’s your turn!
The Edith Lansell Room
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 2
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 2
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Large room with Queen bed and ensuite with claw foot bath. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine. Edith Lansell’s Bedroom. Edith was George Lansell’s second wife. The window that adjoins the main foyer is the original back of the modest two-story home that Lansell purchased in 1871, which he bought off the German New Yorkers, Messrs T Ballerstedt and sons. It was a communications room of the military hence the false ceiling, with the marble fireplace once painted peach. The ensuite was also once the pay room for all military personnel, it features a clawfoot bath and beautiful leadlight windows. It has been lovingly bought back to life by the Banks family and it should give the aroma of roses, which were Edith’s favourite flower.
The Fortuna Apartment
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 4
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 4
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Self contained apartment with King Bed and 2 Single beds with a living area, dining area and 1 bathroom. Sleeps 4 people. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine. During the military days, the main bedroom and nursery was the sergeants bar and mess hall. On the right handside of the passageway is the billon room which has tunnel to the crushing room that is downhill and has railway tracks. Lansells quartz would then be transported underground and stored. The lounge area was a very formal area in Lansells era and formed part of the original modest two-story home built by the Ballstedt family. The German, New Yorkers sadly sold Fortuna Villa to George for the sum of £20,000 and he went onto become the world’s richest man.
The Garden Cottage
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 2
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 2
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Cottage with Queen bed and ensuite. Includes breakfast hamper and complimentary bottle of red or white wine. Once known as the kitchen and laundry for the Lansell family it was the engine room of keeping all things grand at Fortuna Villa. It was later taken over by current head gardener Ian Reid who we were luckily enough to inherit when we purchased Fortuna from the military. Ian has worked at Fortuna Villa for 15 years. Sadly, Ian lost his garden shed for you to enjoy and has since moved to the P hut. It was fully restored in 2020 and makes for a very cosy self-contained environment.
The Lansell Suite
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 2
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 2
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Large suite with King bed, ensuite and kitchenette. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine. The Blue Room was most known as George Lansell’s Library. Prior to becoming a library, it was George’s first ever snooker room and overlooked his favourite monument, the beautiful Pompeii Fountain. You will notice the concrete pillars in the floor, these are the foundations of the tunnel’s underneath, the larger pad near the bed was used to hold George’s safe. The Blue Room was the first bedroom to be renovated by the Banks Family. The two antique armchairs are original furnishings from the heyday of Fortuna Villa.
The Nursery
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 6
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 6
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Nursery with 3 Queen beds and 3 bathrooms. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine. Home of the Lansell boys and nannies, the nursery was a hive of activity. The Mansard attic was the playroom which once housed a fully-fledged carousel and a walk in doll’s house! Alot of fun was to be had in between these walls. Please ensure you keep up the reputation.
The Penthouse
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 2
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 2
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Penthouse with Super King bed, sitting room, billiard table, ensuite and kitchenette. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine.
The Princess Ruby Room
Room Configuration:
INCLUDED GUESTS: 2
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
MAX GUESTS: 2
Room Configuration:
| No children permitted
| No infants permitted
Large room with Queen bed and ensuite. Includes breakfast provisions and a complimentary bottle of red wine. George Lansell’s mining managers would often stay in this room along with Prime Ministers, Governor Generals, and other political and business leaders. It is now the room of my princess and daughter Ruby Kalkidan Banks born in Ethiopia raised and truly loved in Australia since the age of one by parents and brothers. This room has plethora of love, hope, and welcomes any princess that stays.
Cancellations received at any time will incur an administration fee from the Bendigo Visitor Centre of $27.50.
Fortuna Villa accepts cancellations up until 7 days prior to arrival. Within 7 days no refund is available.