21/02/2024 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm $10 ‘The Chipilly Six were extraordinary men in extraordinary times. Lucas Jordan reveals a wider story of Australia’s Great War veterans as they battled a nation forgetting, a bitter Depression, another World War and beyond. This is a remarkable insight into a vanishing world’ — Bill Gammage, Emeritus Professor, Humanities Research Centre, ANU. On 9 August…
28/02/2024 @ 5:30 pm - 27/03/2024 @ 6:30 pm Free Wednesdays, Starting at 5.30pm (bar open at 5pm) | The full program, is coming soon...
02/03/2024 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $33 – $45 Ladies, grab your crowns and let's reign supreme over the most epic women's night out of the year! Women Just Want to Laugh! You're in for an evening of uproarious laughter, unforgettable stories, and, of course, WINE Brace yourselves for the uproarious talent of one of Australia's finest female comedians, led by the sensational Janelle…
05/03/2024 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm $10 Kind of Sort of Maybe... but probably not by Imbi Neeme A charming, nostalgic, quirky, uplifting novel of people young and old finding their tribe, gaining courage to be themselves and perhaps falling in love, too.Kind of Sort of Maybe... but probably notLibrarian Phoebe Cotton lives with misophonia. The sound of other people crunching an…
06/03/2024 @ 7:00 pm - 27/03/2024 @ 8:30 pm Free Weekly classes 7pm Wednesdays These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. Classes consist of two guided meditations and a teaching to help us solve our daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek. Beginners welcome. Free for Kadampa members…
07/03/2024 @ 5:30 pm - 28/03/2024 @ 10:30 pm $3 – $80 Meet Thursdays in the Humffray Room
14/03/2024 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Luscious Moroccan Drama In 2021, BFS screened the well-received film, Adam. This is Touzani ‘s second feature film, described by Sight and Sound as a ‘tender, dignified drama’. A master tailor who owns a caftan shop in Morocco’s oldest medina, falls for his young male apprentice in this nuanced portrait of unconditional love at its most…
17/03/2024 @ 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm $25 Ballarat Scottish Country Dancing | St. Patrick's Day Social The Annual Minerva Social in the Minerva Space at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute, 117-119 Sturt St, Ballarat (at the Melbourne end of Sturt St.) from 2.00pm - 5.30pm. But get there early to hear the welcome from our piper in the Edwardian bandstand across the street.…
21/03/2024 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm $10 Felix Schmidt is backpacking on the Camino de Santiago when he meets the love of his life, the beautiful French Pascaline. He brings her back to Australia where he joins a new firm of management consultants. Deeply engrossed in he company’s growth, he neglects Pascaline. She believes his addiction has reduced him as a person,…
03/04/2024 @ 7:00 pm - 24/04/2024 @ 8:30 pm Free Weekly classes 7pm Wednesdays These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. Classes consist of two guided meditations and a teaching to help us solve our daily problems and find the lasting happiness we seek. Beginners welcome. Free for Kadampa members…
04/04/2024 @ 5:30 pm - 25/04/2024 @ 10:30 pm $3 – $80 Meet Thursdays in the Humffray Room
07/04/2024 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm $36 – $40 Australias most wanted comedian is back After three years off... and he's not here to f*ck spiders! That's right. Not even if they're dressed in a sexy spider nurse outfit. He just hasn't got the time. And neither do you. Because life happens whether you like it or not. You can tiptoe around it, have a whinge or…
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
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
