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Artwork:  Jimi Gregg

Leah Senior with Champanzee.

BMI is thrilled to host two groups with a very unique modern take on folk music in the Humffray Room.

Leah Senior creates captivating folk music through ethereal vocals, thoughtful lyricism and blissful harmonies.

This will be her first appearance to Ballarat since the release of The Passing Scene ( Flightless Records) a stand out album of 2020.

Joining her for the performance will be long term collaborators Andi Senior and Jesse Williams.

Also making their first ever Ballarat appearance in their hometown will be Chimpanzee led by Bananagun drummer Jimi Gregg and joined by other members of Cool Sounds and Crepes.

Chimpanzee brings to life Jimi’s thoughtful poetry, alongside elements of jazz and folk combined in a uniquely rhythmic way.

Pre-booking is available through Trybooking or else $20 on the door if not sold out. (trybooking.com/BSHHV)

Tickets

Pre-booking is available or else $20 on the door is not sold out.

Guides in period costume

Minerva's Secrets Night Tours

Night Tours

Fri 31 Oct – Sat 15 Nov

& Fri 12 Dec
 

Tour 1 at 7pm
Tour 2 at 9pm. 

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

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The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

Featuring the BMI Image Collection | Now $20

Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

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

Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May. 

Spring Season, History Talks:

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

Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm. 

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

guides dressed in period costum

Australian Heritage Festival

Minerva's Secrets

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

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm. 

Linen & Lace Exhbition

Includes Devonshire Tea | $20

Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm

with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm. 

Ballart Seniors Festival 

Celebrate at the BMI.

 October 2025. 

Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

 Coming in November

Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey

with Michael Robotham

 Wed 20 August at 6pm. 

Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm. 

Raise a Glass for Brass. 

The Little Brass Band BMI Fundraiser

Sun 10 August at 2pm. 

 Coming soon

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

 Coming soon

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

Thu 16 Oct – 19 Oct 

Remembrance Day:

A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia

Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm. 

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing