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Meet Thursdays in the Humffray Room

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The chess table in the photo (which is part of a collage of portraits of old BMI members) is possibly one of those still in use in the BMI Library on the ground floor. The date of the picture, at a rough guess, is believed to be between 1866 and 1875. C.J. Harvey (shown on the picture), J.Tatham (on the collage) and W.D. Battan (secretary of the BMI, on the collage and who presented the collage to the BMI in 1910) were active chess-players in 1866-67. They played, amongst others, in the infamous Smythesdale handicap-chess tournament, which lasted 8 months, and ended in controversy.
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Thu 16 Oct – 19 Oct 

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Australian Heritage Festival

Minerva's Secrets

25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets. 

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The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

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Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60

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Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

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Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May. 

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Spring Season, History Talks:

Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!

Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm. 

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Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

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Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

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portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

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portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

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 Coming soon…

Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns

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Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

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with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm. 

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with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm. 

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Ballart Seniors Festival 

Celebrate at the BMI.

 October 2025. 

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Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

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Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

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 Coming in September…

Gabriel Bergmoser, Tracey Lee Holmes, Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae.

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with Michael Robotham

 Wed 20 August at 6pm. 

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Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm. 

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Raise a Glass for Brass. 

The Little Brass Band BMI Fundraiser

Sun 10 August at 2pm. 

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 Coming soon…

Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.

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BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing

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