Invention, innovation & environment display

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

Our Heritage Collections Volunteers Our Collections Volunteers  have a small selection of articles and stories from our heritage book collection that relate to topic of our recent Twilight Talks - Innovators. This display is a must see, (during regular Library operating hours) in the lead up to the September Twilight Talks Series: Innovators: Uncovering some […]

Free

The Reading Room | 27 September 2022

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

The Reading Room (2pm in the Library for a start @ 10.30am - 12noon) This volunteer run reading and discussion group meets monthly. It is anticipated that members will read the selected book prior to attendance.If you would like to be a part of this group (free to BMI members) please complete the Expression of […]

Event Series The Reading Room | NOW CANCELLED

The Reading Room | NOW CANCELLED

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

The Reading Room  This volunteer run reading and discussion group meets monthly. It is anticipated that members will read the selected book prior to attendance. If you would like to be a part of this group (free to BMI members) please complete the Expression of Interest. We welcome your feedback through this form as we […]

Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute

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

Image: Courtesy Paul Lambeth The Tour (by day) A colourful history of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and it’s people. Tuesday’s at 2pm By appointment only, (to organise a volunteer guide we require 24hrs notice). Please complete the on-line booking form. Cost (incl. gst) $10 per person Find out about our Night Tours More Tour Information Enq/Book a […]

$10.00

Twilight Talks 2022 | Season 2 | Session 4

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

Innovators: Uncovering some of Ballarat's best minds. Session 4 Ballarat industry: At the cutting edge of world of research & development. Ballarat: Old, gold and cold? Or a thriving liveable city of the future? Do we deserve a new motto? Should our reputation remain in the past? Or should we embrace the vision of Ballarat […]

$12.00

Current Affairs Dialogue | Discussion Group

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

NEXT CAD: Subject will be “Russia’s War on Ukraine: Whys, Wherefores and Global Implications”. Keep it in mind in your viewing, listening and reading over the next few weeks. Come along and contribute; leave more aware and thoughtful. (Hey, Thursday 29th is just four days after THE major current affair of September, the Grand Final!! […]

Current Affairs Dialogue | Discussion Group | NOW POSTPONED

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

Last months Summary: Three members met at the BMI on Thursday 29 September at 1.30 – 3.00 pm for the scheduled CAD session. Several apologies received. Subject was the Ukraine situation. Another stimulating discussion. It covered the centuries-old background to the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, rooted as it is in break-up of past empires, various peace […]

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

Ballarat Film Society – Quo Vadis, Aida?

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

​Quo Vadis, Aida? is inspired by true events.  In Bosnia, 1995, middle-aged Aida is a United Nations translator located in the small mountain town of Srebrenica when the Serbian army ignores a UN peace ultimatum and begins a series of round-ups. Aida’s translation skills come into action when Aida and her family find themselves among 30,000 […]

Chris Hammer | Now cancelled

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

Ballarat Libraries in partnership with BMI Join bestselling crime writer Chris Hammer in conversation with 2022 Indie Book Award winner for debut fiction Lyn Yeowart.  Hammer, the multi-award-winning author of Scrublands will be discussing his highly anticipated novel The Tilt. A must attend event for lovers of gripping, homegrown Australian crime writing. Yeowart’s debut novel (The […]

Free

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
Event Series The Reading Room | NOW CANCELLED

The Reading Room | NOW CANCELLED

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

The Reading Room  This volunteer run reading and discussion group meets monthly. It is anticipated that members will read the selected book prior to attendance. If you would like to be a part of this group (free to BMI members) please complete the Expression of Interest. We welcome your feedback through this form as we […]

with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 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

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective

Wed 2-30 April, 5.30pm

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

Fundraising Dinner
17 May. 

  Performance – 18 May.

Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

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

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

Featuring the BMI Image Collection | Now $20

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2024 End of Financial Year Appeal 

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Our Challenge

Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges. 

We thank you for your support.

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing