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05/11/2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 – $12 Lending Library 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 our daily…
05/11/2025 @ 7:15 pm - 8:00 pm Free Minerva Space Get Tickets Stella Day Out is a free one-day literary festival that celebrates and promotes the outstanding contributions of women and non-binary writers to Australian literature. Cactus Pear for my Beloved: A Family Story from Gaza by Samah Sabawi In conversation 2025 Stella shortlisted author Samah Sabawi is joined by Fatima Measham to…
06/11/2025 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The Lucky SistersRachael Johns The breakout blockbuster of the year - a deeply moving novel about life, death and the miracles in between, by the award-winning author of The Patterson Girls. The Lucky Sisters...Will their luck run out... What would you do if you thought each day on earth might just be…
12/11/2025 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm $25 – $35 Humffray Room Session begins at 5:30pm Get Tickets Crafting Conversation A Panel Series for Makers in Business Real talk - Generous insight - A creative space to learn, reflect and connect Artist Panel: Travis Price, Ben Sanders & Spencer Harrison Our second edition moves across to the community of artists, featuring three Ballarat artists who work commercially,…
12/11/2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 – $12 Lending Library 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 our daily…
13/11/2025 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Compelling Cold War Political Thriller In 1961, the charismatic Swedish diplomat, economist and implacable idealist Dag Hammarskjöld was in his seventh year as Secretary-General of the United Nations. By some, he was considered the ‘clearest thinker in the room,’ but by others as the victim of a ‘saviour complex’ (Cineuropa). Torn between his personal life…
15/11/2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm $27.50 Meet at the BMI entrance Get Tickets Explore tales of the weird and supernatural – the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute at night. Looking for a unique way to explore Ballarat’s rich history and culture? Look no further than the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute’s Night Tours! This beautiful heritage building dates back to the 1860s and boasts a…
15/11/2025 @ 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm $27.50 Meet at the BMI entrance Get Tickets Explore tales of the weird and supernatural – the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute at night. Looking for a unique way to explore Ballarat’s rich history and culture? Look no further than the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute’s Night Tours! This beautiful heritage building dates back to the 1860s and boasts a…
18/11/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets An Ill Wind Margaret Hickey A Small Town Divided - Secrets Are Blown Apart Author of Cutters End and Stone Town High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one, now deadly still with a limp body hanging from one…
19/11/2025 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9.73 – $13.83 Bar open at 5pm $9.73 – $13.83 Humffray Room Get tickets Her Majesty's Renovation This talk will examine the recent renovation of Her Majesty's Theatre and explore the challenges, rewards and outcomes for the community that accompany transformational change to a treasured Heritage Building in the heart of the City of Ballarat. Speaker: Richard Nicholson…
19/11/2025 @ 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…
20/11/2025 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Minerva Room Get Tickets The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop: Surgeon, prisoner-of-war, life -saving leader and legend of the Thai-Burma RailwayPeter FitzSimons Australia's bestselling non-fiction writer Peter FitzSimons AM will be in Ballarat to celebrate his latest book about Weary Dunlop.Peter FitzSimons AM is Australia's bestselling non-fiction writer, and for the past 39 years has…
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm.
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.
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.
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
Pre-Sale $60 from 6 Aug to 9 Aug - $65 thereafter
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
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