July 15 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Seen Again is a modern companion through matrescence, the profound transition of becoming a mother. Matrescence is a biological, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual transformation that can leave mothers without the language or support to make sense of who they are. Many feel disconnected or …
July 15 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 – $12 Lending Library, ground floor These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance. Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve…
July 16 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Minerva Room Documentary Tribute to David Gulpilil David Gulpilil, from the Mandjalpingu (Djilba) clan of the Yolngu people, was discovered by a visiting British film-maker and recruited into the world of film. Adventurous, talented, intelligent and ambitious, he became one of Australia's best-known and charismatic actors. Following Walkabout (1971), Gulpilil's acting career spanned over 40 films, including…
July 20 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.00 Humffray Room Get Tickets Every Time She Wakes Petronella McGovern Petronella will be in conversation with local author Paula Gleeson An unputdownable thriller from the bestselling author of Six Minutes and The Last Trace. Every Time She Wakes is a taut, time-bending thriller about family, identity and defying fate. When careers counsellor Suze and her family are…
July 22 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 – $12 Lending Library, ground floor These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance. Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve…
July 23 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space The Tony Award Winning Play by Yasmina Reza Directed by Ruby Abbott After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition. God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards and the 2009…
July 24 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Free Humffray Room Get Tickets The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is custodian of the most intact surviving set of the Educational Collections of Victorian Plants (1874–1876). A herbarium and series of books compiled by the first Chief Botanist of the Colony of Victoria, Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller. This presentation reveals the history and significance of this remarkable collection,…
July 24 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space The Tony Award Winning Play by Yasmina Reza Directed by Ruby Abbott After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition. God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards and the 2009…
July 25 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space The Tony Award Winning Play by Yasmina Reza Directed by Ruby Abbott After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition. God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards and the 2009…
July 25 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space The Tony Award Winning Play by Yasmina Reza Directed by Ruby Abbott After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition. God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards and the 2009…
July 29 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Lest Angels Weep Phillipa Nefri Clark Phillipa will be in conversation with local actor Kate Atkinson The new case is cold. Stone cold. Until another murder with striking similarities rocks a remote outback town. Detective Liz Moorland is desperate to get out of Melbourne. Away from the aftermath of shocking events…
August 1 @ 7:00 pm - 11:50 pm $150 Get Tickets The Anything for a Mate (AFAM) Charity Ball is on again. The AFAM Ball was an idea from a group of friends who wanted to do something to help a mate. What it evolved into was the biggest non-corporate donation made to The NBCF in 2026. In memory of our dearly loved daughter,…
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
