The Reading Room (2.30pm – 4pm)
This workshop is a BMI Community Art Project – Ballarat’s Oldest Cultural Institution
ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits The Arch of Victory Avenue of Honour Committee invites you to its 2026 ANZAC Day Service at the Arch of Victory At this year’s service we are remembering the NZ in ANZAC as 36Ballarat district soldiers and one nurse had close connections with New Zealand and 17 of them lost
A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute in 2026 Dear Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute supporter, In the early days of the gold rush, Ballarat was a place of extraordinary ambition. Among the diggers and merchants who built the town was a group of citizens who believed that knowledge mattered just as much as
The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI on Tuesday 21 April at 6pm A body on the beach. An inheritance. A family pulled apart. CC Cilento’s best memories are of spending every summer holiday running wild in and out of the Friend family beach house with her cousins, James, Ollie, Felix and
Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb, Ballarat Times When theatre-maker Gin O’Brien found a script for a play about dogs she knew straight away she must stage it. As a result, Ballarat National Theatre is now getting ready to present the local premiere of The Dog Logs, a play written by C.J. Johnson and
BMI’s Twilight Talks Return by Evie Lamb, Ballarat Times The Twilight Talks series is back at the the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute this month with more tales from Henry Lawson’s 1887 exploration of local Eureka Rebellion sites. Taking place on Wednesday 15 April, the first talk will feature guest presenter Hedley Thomson who last year provided a
Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin SDB with Gerardine Christou Don’t miss Gerardine at the BMI on Tuesday 14 April at 6pm This is the story of Peg, an ordinary woman who was ‘made of extraordinary stuff’ Margaret (Peg) Rankin is remembered by all who knew and loved her as a
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Night Tours
Fri 31 Oct – Sat 15 Nov
& Fri 12 Dec
Tour 1 at 7pm
Tour 2 at 9pm.
Linen & Lace Exhbition
Includes Devonshire Tea | $20
Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.
Coming soon…
Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns
Coming soon…
Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.
Coming in November…
Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey
Australian Heritage Festival
Minerva's Secrets
25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets.
Spring Season, History Talks:
Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!
Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm.
Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60
The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2026 Calendar
Featuring illustrations from our Heritage Book Collection $40
Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.
Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges.
2 course dinner & lots
of dancing
