RENEWAL works are underway for a monument to one of Bendigo's most important investors, George Lansell.
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The works are part of an annual renewal program on heritage sculptures and monuments.
"The statues take quite an impact with the weather over many years," City of Greater Bendigo parks and open space manager, Paul Gangell said.
"We're doing a clean, a hot wax, a polish and a bronze treatment that will certainly bring he statue back to its former glory."
The statue was erected by the citizens of Bendigo following Mr Lansell's death in 1906, in appreciation of his "indomitable courage and persistent enterprise in the development of Bendigo's gold resources."
Mr Lansell earned a reputation as 'Australia's Quartz King'.
The Australian Dictionary of Biography states Mr Lansell had some link with almost every mine in Bendigo, thirty-eight of which he directed.
He invested heavily in the community, to such a degree his presence and absence had a noticeable difference on the local economy.
The people of Bendigo petitioned Mr Lansell to return in the 1880s, after he moved back to London.
Mr Lansell and his home, Fortuna Villa, drew dignitaries to the region.
Advocating for a memorial, Mr Lansell's contemporaries said he "put his money in land, bricks and mortar, lived here and died here, and his mines work on, giving employment'', unlike many others who made their fortunes on the Bendigo goldfields.
Mr Gangell said the statue was still in fair condition.
"We want to make sure it's maintained for future generations," he said.
Renewal works could take three more weeks, depending on the weather.
"It's certainly been a number of yeas since we've had a treatment on George," Mr Gangell said.
The statue is at Sidney Myer Place, between the Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum and the Bendigo Law Courts.
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