The Ballarat Courier Collection | Special Programs
2023-05-21 10:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
The BMI has recently worked with Grimwade Conservation Services to perform urgently required conservation work on a number of significant items from the Heritage Victoria registered collection. This work was carried out as part of a Victorian Government Living Heritage Grant awarded in 2021, with work completed in December 2022. These items include original volumes of Australian plant specimen books compiled by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, and associated books written by von Mueller, an original artwork known to have belonged to the BMI from the early days of the Institute and various other valuable books needing cleaning and restoration work. The primary exhibition will showcase these remarkable items within the Heritage listed building that is the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute. The proposed accompanying events will include creative programming to showcase this work, the wider BMI collection and the historic building and introduce or re-introduce the wider public to “their” Institute. Invitations will be extended to other special interest organisations to bring their members to learn why Ballarat was considered an important centre for learning and knowledge sharing, even in the 19th century.

Cost/Entry Fee: Free to BMI members | $5 for non-members

Book here

View the full list of Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

Ballarat Heritage Festival | BMI

Executive Manager Update – April 2026
Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI,...

Newsletter – April 2026
Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live...

Rosemary’s Book of the Week
What The Bones Know Kirstyn McDermott A child’s bones, a...

A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | April 2026
The BMI certainly had a busy and productive 2025/2026 financial...

Load More

Living Heritage Exhibition
2023-05-21 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-22 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-23 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-24 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-25 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-27 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-28 11:00 - 16:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Life Drawing in the Basement
2023-05-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-05-28 19:00 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Life Drawing in the Basement (this event now cancelled)
2023-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Baron von Mueller Collection | Special Programs
2023-05-22 10:30 - 12:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Cataloguing workshop | AMaGa | Geraldine Brault
2023-05-22 10:30 - 14:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

The Artwork of the BMI | Special Programs
2023-05-24 10:30 - 12:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

The Photography of the BMI | Special Programs
2023-05-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Silent Film with Live Band | Buster Keaton in 'The General'
2023-05-28 18:00 - 19:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Salon Sessions: Melba Opera Trust | This event has now been CANCELLED.
2023-06-04 14:00 - 15:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Digitisation Workshop | AMaGa | Geraldine Brault
2023-06-05 10:30 - 14:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Meet the Author | Maya Linnell
2023-06-30 14:00 - 15:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Meet the Author | A. J. Lyndon
2023-07-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Chamber Music in Ballarat | All Beethoven Duo Recital
2023-09-16 17:00 - 18:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Card Making with Fay Marshall | Victorian Seniors Festival
2023-10-11 11:00 - 15:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Dried floral arrangement with Fay Marshall | Victorian Seniors Festival
2023-10-25 11:00 - 15:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

All Schubert Chamber Recital | Susan Pierotti, Zoe Knighton & Brian Chapman
2024-04-21 14:30 - 16:15 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show
2024-05-17 10:30 - 2024-05-30 16:00 | Hugh Williamson Foyer, Level 1

Exhibition | Not the Last Picture Show: From the Archives
2024-05-17 10:30 - 2024-05-30 16:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Human Designs | Zlatko Balazic & John McKee (aka Jack Morph): Featuring the art of Melinda Muscat
2024-06-17 10:00 - 2024-07-26 15:00 | Hugh Williamson Foyer, Level 1

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Dinner - This event has now been CANCELLED.
2025-05-17 18:30 - 23:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
