BENDIGO'S most famous house, Fortuna Villa, will be put back on the market after failing to sell.

The three-storey mansion, once the home of quartz-king George Lansell, was put on the market last year by the Department of Defence after it deemed it no longer needed the property.

The mansion on 7.6ha, which has some 30 rooms including a grand entrance hall, conservatory and seven bathrooms, attracted six tenders but three were submitted after the December 7 deadline.
 
Mr Lansell bought the circa-1860 mansion and during his 35 years at the property extended it several times to create a palatial home.

The property was acquired by the Defence Department in 1942.

A department spokesman said the late tenders were not opened.

He said the asking price was a confidential matter but Weekly Times Now understands a previous evaluation put the property at about $3 million.

The department had specific tender conditions requiring the new owner to protect the Commonwealth heritage values of the property.

The tenders received did not conform to set tender conditions.

"Defence will review the marketing options for the sale of Fortuna and recommence the sale process in 2013," the spokesperson said.

"Defence aim to complete the sale of Fortuna in the financial year 2012-13."