Book-making Workshop with Maggie Dannatt | One space available

Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up 512 Macarthur Street, Soldiers Hill, Victoria, Australia

Image: Courtesy Maggie Dannatt A workshop in Book-making. I made my first book as a teenager, wanting to save all my favorite Don Martin cartoons from all the Mad magazines I had bought. I later learnt basic bookbinding at art school so that I could bind the books I was illustrating. I have made many […]

$132.00

Book-making Workshop with Maggie Dannatt | 20 October 22

Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up 512 Macarthur Street, Soldiers Hill, Victoria, Australia

Image: Courtesy Maggie Dannatt A workshop in Book-making. I made my first book as a teenager, wanting to save all my favorite Don Martin cartoons from all the Mad magazines I had bought. I later learnt basic bookbinding at art school so that I could bind the books I was illustrating. I have made many […]

$132.00

Book-making Workshop with Maggie Dannatt | 27 October 22

Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up 512 Macarthur Street, Soldiers Hill, Victoria, Australia

Image: Courtesy Maggie Dannatt A workshop in Book-making. I made my first book as a teenager, wanting to save all my favorite Don Martin cartoons from all the Mad magazines I had bought. I later learnt basic bookbinding at art school so that I could bind the books I was illustrating. I have made many […]

$132.00

Book-making Workshop with Maggie Dannatt | 3 November 22

Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up 512 Macarthur Street, Soldiers Hill, Victoria, Australia

Image: Courtesy Maggie Dannatt A workshop in Book-making. I made my first book as a teenager, wanting to save all my favorite Don Martin cartoons from all the Mad magazines I had bought. I later learnt basic bookbinding at art school so that I could bind the books I was illustrating. I have made many […]

$132.00

Salon Sessions: The BMI in partnership with Duo Latte

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

The musicians: John Dods & Dana Czarski: Image Courtesy: John Dods Duo Latte: (Formed in 2020). This classical duo comprises two musicians who live in the Wimmera and began as a direct result of the Covid pandemic.  Unable to continue with the long-established Ballarat Symphony Orchestral weekly rehearsals, 'cellist John Dods soon realised that an opportunity […]

$38.50

Embrace the Begonia Festival Workshop | Location now changed

Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up 512 Macarthur Street, Soldiers Hill, Victoria, Australia

Format A workshop in creating crepe paper begonia flowers with Marianne & Alison Thomson (aka Madam Lovage Florist & Sunshine Plants  popups CBD Ballarat) This workshop is to support families in decorating their homes for the Begonia Festival (March 11-13), our objective is to make posies and bunting together to take home. Attendance To attend […]

Event Series The Reading Room

The Reading Room | Now rescheduled to 2 May

Heritage Reading Room Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

The Reading Room This volunteer run reading and discussion group meets monthly, the last Monday of the month, in the Heritage Reading Room (subject to availability) . Members will select books to be discussed which will include fiction, non-fiction, poetry and short stories. If you would like to be a part of this group (free […]

Feeling Out Loud: Writing Poetry

Heritage Reading Room Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

A relaxed session of writing poetry as personal catharsis. Let your feelings flow onto the page with a series of writing prompts and the gift of time to write, with the option to share your poetic works out loud in a safe, facilitated space. Confirmation This FREE event is being run by Ballarat Libraries Get […]

Meet the Author | Bill “Swampy” Marsh

Heritage Reading Room Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

About Bill Swampy Marsh: The Australian Outback can be harsh, but it's the kind of place where you either learn to laugh off your troubles or fold under the pressure. Bill 'Swampy' Marsh has a deep affection and respect for people living in the Australian Bush, and he's spent more than twenty years travelling to […]

$10

Book Launch | Look Back on Languor: The memoir of a hurkle-durkle Australian male

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Dr Frank Hurley OAM is well-known and highly respected in the Ballarat community, nowhere more so than in BMI circles has written a memoir titled Look Back on Languor: The memoir of a hurkle-durkle Australian male. The book will be launched at the BMI, in the Humffray Room, at 5.00 - 6.30 p.m. on Friday […]

Meet the Author | Olivia Wearne & Elizabeth Coleman

Heritage Reading Room Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

The Woman Who Knew Too Little by Olivia Wearne  A Routine Infidelity by Elizabeth Coleman THE similarities keep coming for two local authors who discovered they recently published their latest works a couple of days apart from each other. Now Elizabeth Coleman and Olivia Wearne have become fast friends following the release of their second novels. […]

$10

Digitisation Workshop | AMaGa | Geraldine Brault

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Digitisation workshop Capturing high-quality images of your catalogue records serve as a digital preservation copy of our collections while also allowing for increased public access and decreased physical handling. This workshop will provide you with an opportunity to work one-on-one to learn the basics of museum photography such as camera settings and operations, lighting, and image […]

Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Tax Deductible 

Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.

We need
your help.

2024 End of Financial Year Appeal 

Or alternatively go to our Donations web page.

Our Challenge

Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges. 

We thank you for your support.
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

Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective

Wed 2-30 April, 5.30pm

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm

with Michael Robotham

 Wed 20 August 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

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm

with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm

with Kylie Ladd

 Wed 25 June at 6pm

Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing