The Villa Fortuna Action Group has the objective in the short term of bringing the issue of the Commonwealth selling Fortuna into the public arena through the provision of information.

All mapping work has ceased at the site and staff have transferred to the new facility at Longlea on the outskirts of Bendigo. The Department of Defence has since conducted a very successful Open Day at Fortuna on Saturday 6th December and more than 5000 visitors came to visit the property on that day.

The Villa Fortuna Action Group intends to keep the issue alive in Bendigo in the immediate future and has already commenced the process of asking people to sign a Petition which will be directed to the City of Greater Bendigo council.  Pamphlets are in circulation (e.g. North Central Goldfields Library and other places within the city) and, through this means inform the public and seek membership of the Group ($20 for Joining Fee and One Year membership). Another aspect of the process is the intention to have newspaper articles appear to raise interest and awareness about the forthcoming release of Fortuna from Commonwealth hands.

As they develop, further activities of public interest will be posted on this website.

Public Meetings

In that regard a public meeting was held at the LaTrobe Visual Arts Centre on 3rd July 2008 when approximately 75 members of the community were present, including councillors and council officers. Question and answer sessions accompanied the presentations of both speakers.

Ms Maggie Maguire from the Abbotsford Convent spoke entertainingly to the crowd about the fight to save the Convent site in Melbourne from development and outlined in some detail the various arts, cultural and business activities that thrive at the Convent arts hub.  She pointed out that in a short time the Convent has been able to establish a viable financial situation through its many activities.

Mr David French, from the Department of Defence Disposals Team in Canberra, spoke about the process that pertains to the sale of properties and gave details of the criteria that apply for a Priority Sale (such as might apply to the City of Greater Bendigo as an applicant).  He outlined to those present some of the procedures in working towards a sale - an extensive heritage and environmental survey, followed by community consultation in various forms.  In this respect, the Bendigo Advertiser carried an article on the meeting headed 'Villa could open for public viewing' (Saturday July 5th, 2008). This can be referred to for further detail.

Submission to Council

On Thursday June 11th, at 8 pm, a delegation from the VFAG Committee presented a "Business Concept" to Greater Bendigo City Council, regarding the future use of Fortuna.  The presentation was well received.  The following two documents (in PDF format) formed the basis of this presentation:

Business Concept (June 2009)

Case Study Attachment (June 2009)