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

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow | Ballarat

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

Grab a mate, grab a date... grab a ticket to the Roadshow! Australia’s biggest and best comedy festival is hitting the road for a huge 25th year! Featuring the best and brightest of the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, we’re bringing the funny to you! Get ready for a stellar line-up with Roadshow favourites alongside the […]

$40 – $45

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 […]

Event Series The Reading Room

The Reading Room

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 […]

Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute

Library Ground Floor Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 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 2023 | Season 2, Session 1

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

Twilight Talks is back on again. We have a great line-up of talks: Music and Entertainment History Ailsa DuBois Ailsa chose Ballarat as her home over 18 years ago. She holds two Masters degrees: Journalism (UTS) and Writing & Literature (Deakin), among other qualifications. She is Vice-President of the community-based ‘Ballarat Arts Alive’. Steve Rattle, […]

$8

Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute

Library Ground Floor Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 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 2023 | Season 2, Session 2

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

Twilight Talks is back on again. We have a great line-up of talks: Military History - How do we remember? Peter Dowling Local member of the Ballarat WAGS (Wireless Airgunners School). Motivated to find out more of his father’s and uncle’s experiences in WWII, Peter Dowling has been a member and now President of the […]

$8.

Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute

Library Ground Floor Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 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
Event Series Ballarat Film Society 2023

Ballarat Film Society – A Hero (Ghahreman)

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

Iran, 2021, 127 min. Directed by Asghar Farhadi Modern Iranian Morality Tale Note - this is the 3rd, not the 2nd, Thursday in May. The AGM will commence at 7.00 pm, followed by the film at 7.30 ​ A-lister auteur Farhadi sets his latest film in the Iranian city of Shiraz. Ramin (Amir Jadidi) is in […]

The Heritage Collection | Special Program

Lending Library Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, Australia

An introduction to the history of the BMI Heritage listed collection, its origins, preservation and future, including an examination of some of the most valuable collection items.  The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute  (BMI) Collection is of historical significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, […]

$15.00

Living Heritage Exhibition

Heritage Reading Room Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 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 […]

$5
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 | $40

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.

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing