April 22 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets Ballarat's Avenue of Honour & A look behind names on the Avenue plaques Speakers: Amethyst May & Gary Snowden About the speakers Amethyst May Amethyst May is a student at Mount Clear College who has a passion for Australia's war history. She will present a short documentary on Ballarat's women during the…
April 29 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets Dickie Larsen's Pumpkin & Other Stories Speaker: Geoff Carr, author Spike is a young boy in 1950s Australia, surrounded by sprawling landscapesand a menagerie of animals. Together with his friends Leany and Riddy, they do what all young boys in the bush do: make their own fun. From chooks in outhouses,…
May 6 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets What We Watched Before Cinema: ‘Entertainments’ at the Mechanics’ Hall, 1863–1919 Speaker: Ellen Becker When the Mechanics’ Hall opened in 1863, the people of Ballarat flocked to see some strange and spectacular contemporary entertainments — mesmerists, automata, waxworks, human curiosities, and the magic of the first moving image technologies. Join Curator Ellen…
September 16 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets A Brief, Selected History ‘Herstory’ of Nursing at Ballarat Base Hospital - Over the years. Speakers: Emeritus Professor Margaret Bennett AM Sarah Birtles Shirley Jones Topic Synopsis: The 'herstory' of nursing at BBH, now Grampians Health, reflects changing times in Victoria. After looking at what is a nurse in 2026, we briefly glance…
September 30 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets Ideas of Love and Loss, Big Challenges and Small Victories. Speakers: Writer, Anne Connor Australian poet, Anne Gleeson Topic Synopsis: In this conversation, writer Anne Connor explores with Australian poet Anne Gleeson ideas of love and loss, big challenges and small victories, as revealed in her most recent poetry collections, Small Acts of…
October 7 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets The Importance of Ballarat East Speaker: Doug Bradby Topic Synopsis: In the period 1832-1850 the Chartists of Britain tried and failed to extend Democracy to all male citizens. In the 1850‘s the Chartists of Ballarat succeeded. This talk will explore how the diggers of Ballarat obtained economic power, how they converted that economic…
October 28 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets The Light on the Hill: An Updated History of the Australian Labor Party. by Ross McMullin Speaker: Ross McMullin The Light on the Hill The Light on the Hill is Ross McMullin’s acclaimed commissioned history of the ALP. Hailed as a “classic”, it covers all states and the federal scene comprehensively and accurately…
November 25 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets Create Better Health by Understanding the Language of Your Body: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science & the Microbiome Connection. Speaker: Meredith O'Loughlan The Language of your body Neurobiome Wheel Inner circle: regulatory domains Outer circle: biopatterns The Neurobiome Wheel is a simple framework that helps decode the body's signals by connecting symptoms into meaningful health…
December 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets 100 Year History of Legacy in Ballarat Speaker: Richard McRoberts Isabella Bates and Lorraine Ellis pass the torch at Ballarat's iconic Arch of Victory, marking a proud moment in the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023. The event honours 100 years of Legacy Australia's support for veterans' families. The Ballarat Legacy Club The Ballarat…
Fundraiser for Ballarat RSL & BMI
$33 per person
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm.
Calling for Pre-loved books
These donation assist in our Library Fundraising Activities
We can take delivery during regular Library operating hours. See website footer.
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
Sunday 6 September at 2pm - Cost $65
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.
