BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20210403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20211002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20220402T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20221001T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20230401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20230930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20240406T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20241005T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230415T090000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230416T140000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230310T045900Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230317T002615Z UID:35050-1681549200-1681653600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:BMI Autumn Book Sale DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bmi-autumn-book-sale/ LOCATION:Library Ground Floor\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Fundraiser,Library,Market ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG-0851-e1678425194379.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230414T170000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230414T183000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230315T023507Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230317T002330Z UID:35114-1681491600-1681497000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Book Launch | Look Back on Languor: The memoir of a hurkle-durkle Australian male DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/look-back-on-languor-frank-hurley/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Langour_-front-cover-flyer-image.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230413T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230413T210000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230202T024047Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230202T024640Z UID:33946-1681414200-1681419600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - Both Sides of the Blade DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-bothsidesoftheblade/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event,Film ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Brody-Both-Blade.jpg-e1675305921383.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230328T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230328T150000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230327T231124Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230328T222715Z UID:36550-1680012000-1680015600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/tours-of-ballarat-mechanics-institute-heritage/ LOCATION:Library Ground Floor\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/tours-banner-draft-cropped.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230328T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230328T150000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230327T231124Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230328T222715Z UID:36550-1680012000-1680015600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/tours-of-ballarat-mechanics-institute-heritage/ LOCATION:Library Ground Floor\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/tours-banner-draft-cropped.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230403T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230403T200000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230217T030838Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230329T211548Z UID:34508-1680548400-1680552000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Meet the Author | Bill "Swampy" Marsh DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/meet-the-author-bill-swampy-marsh/ LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,BMI Produced Event,Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bill-portrait-2-e1678423349274.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230331T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230331T120000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230320T035701Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230320T041733Z UID:35539-1680256800-1680264000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Feeling Out Loud: Writing Poetry DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/feeling-out-loud-writing-poetry/ LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,Externally Produced Event,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/0001-46481475799.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230330T123000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230330T133000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230329T221639Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230329T221641Z UID:36847-1680179400-1680183000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Reading Room | Now rescheduled to 2 May DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/the-reading-room-book-discussion-3/ LOCATION:Heritage Reading Room\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,BMI Produced Event,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Reading_room_adjusted-e1704770529709.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230328T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230328T150000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230327T231124Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230328T222715Z UID:36550-1680012000-1680015600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Day Tour of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/tours-of-ballarat-mechanics-institute-heritage/ LOCATION:Library Ground Floor\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/tours-banner-draft-cropped.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230309T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230309T210000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230202T023239Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T011436Z UID:33926-1678390200-1678395600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - Brooklyn DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-brooklyn/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/image-4-e1675305750390.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230308T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230308T190000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20221104T022223Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230125T022201Z UID:24442-1678296600-1678302000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1 DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-2022-season-1-2023-03-08/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/twilight-talks-gold-black-2023.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230304T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230304T120000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230213T032835Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230221T065726Z UID:34263-1677924000-1677931200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Embrace the Begonia Festival Workshop | Location now changed DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/embrace-the-begonia-festival/ LOCATION:Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up\, 512 Macarthur Street\, Soldiers Hill\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Art programs,BMI Produced Event ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/hero-image-adjusted.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230301T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230301T190000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20221104T022223Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230216T024412Z UID:24441-1677691800-1677697200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1 DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-2022-season-1-2023-03-01/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/twilight-talks-gold-black-2023.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230224T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230224T203000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181543 CREATED:20230221T002924Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230221T002947Z UID:34689-1677265200-1677270600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Class Clowns | Ballarat Heat DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/classclowns2023/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Comedy,Externally Produced Event ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/277816395_5466870933332660_6457270729669509639_n-e1676939338168.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230222T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230222T190000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20230214T223946Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230221T231709Z UID:34385-1677087000-1677092400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1 | Now moved to Minerva Space Level 3 DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-2022-season-1-2023-02-22-2/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/twilight-talks-gold-black-2023.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230215T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230215T190000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221104T022223Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230214T054412Z UID:24439-1676482200-1676487600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1 | More tickets released DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-2022-season-1-2023-02-15/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/twilight-talks-gold-black-2023.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230209T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230209T210000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20230202T023137Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T011442Z UID:33922-1675971000-1675976400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - La Strada DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-lastrada/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Externally Produced Event,Film ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1600.jpg-e1675305711958.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230208T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230208T190000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221104T022223Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230125T020134Z UID:24062-1675877400-1675882800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1 DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-2022-season-1/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Culture,Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/twilight-talks-gold-black-2023.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230201T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20230201T210000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221213T235025Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221214T000356Z UID:32169-1675279800-1675285200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Choose Happiness | A Public Talk\, Buddhist Monk\, Gen Kelsang Dornying DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/choose-happiness-a-public-talk-buddhist-monk-gen-kelsang-dornying/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Choose-Happiness-PT-Ballarat-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221218T090000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221218T140000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20220927T034250Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221107T235041Z UID:22664-1671354000-1671372000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:BMI Christmas Maker Market and Book Sale DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bmi-christmas-maker-market-and-book-sale/ LOCATION:Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up\, 512 Macarthur Street\, Soldiers Hill\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Market ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/maker_image-e1628392488945.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221217T090000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221217T140000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20220927T030339Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221107T235354Z UID:22652-1671267600-1671285600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:BMI Book Sale DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bmi-book-sale/ LOCATION:Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up\, 512 Macarthur Street\, Soldiers Hill\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:BMI Produced Event,Market ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/book_sale_10_1_square-e1640068474344.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221209T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221223T150000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221127T221721Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221221T095624Z UID:31932-1670580000-1671807600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Exhibition of works | A TUK - Nyibol Deng DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/exhibition-atuk-nyibol-deng/ LOCATION:Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up\, 512 Macarthur Street\, Soldiers Hill\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Exhibition,The Collection ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/258876547_452349379567739_8714906943474029504_n.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221208T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221208T213000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20220919T051220Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230912T011447Z UID:22478-1670526000-1670535000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - Beyond the Wasteland DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-beyond-the-wasteland/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat Film Society,Film ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MV5BM2MxOTQ2ZGYtNGJmNi00MDAyLThhOGMtNDJmM2M3NDhiNzZkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTEyOTg2OTE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221206T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221206T193000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221116T020355Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221122T005902Z UID:25054-1670347800-1670355000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Meet the Author | Once Were Wild by Leslie Scott DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/meet-the-author-leslie-scott-once-were-wild/ LOCATION:Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up\, 512 Macarthur Street\, Soldiers Hill\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/atdw-images3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220927T103000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220927T120000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20220930T060631Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221124T033024Z UID:22917-1664274600-1664280000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:The Reading Room | NOW CANCELLED DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/the-reading-room-2/ LOCATION:Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up\, 512 Macarthur Street\, Soldiers Hill\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/the-reading-room-event-header-final-e1640069925423.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220929T130000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20220929T150000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20220930T060021Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221124T002915Z UID:22908-1664456400-1664463600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Current Affairs Dialogue | Discussion Group | NOW POSTPONED DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/current-affairs-dialogue/ LOCATION:Soldiers Hill CBD | Pop-up\, 512 Macarthur Street\, Soldiers Hill\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Culture ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Current-Affairs-logo-cropped.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221116T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221116T193000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221003T041413Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221111T003902Z UID:22960-1668621600-1668627000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In conversation with Fleur McDonald DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-with-fleur-mcdonald/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Culture,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/fleur-mcdonald.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221112T200000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221112T213000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221017T020334Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221017T020334Z UID:23531-1668283200-1668288600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Kings of the Blues DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/kings-of-the-blues/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/5333-Kings-Blues-Banner.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Leica Show":MAILTO:lorena@leicashow.com.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221111T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221111T210000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20221017T020814Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221017T020814Z UID:23536-1668195000-1668200400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Eric Bogle Live DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/eric-bogle/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Externally Produced Event,Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/EHI949825-f2c48c87977b4979b7ff14c93cc4548f.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Leica Show":MAILTO:lorena@leicashow.com.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221108T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20221108T213000 DTSTAMP:20260418T181544 CREATED:20220919T045443Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220919T050039Z UID:22469-1667934000-1667943000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society - First Cow DESCRIPTION:This special edition of our regular Twilight Talks series will feature speakers discussing the history of cinema in Ballarat\, complimenting our free exhibition. Just a year after the Lumière brothers invented the cinematograph in 1895\, the first screenings were held at the Mechanics’ Institute\, meaning many had their first ever experience of ‘moving pictures’ in our beautiful Minerva Theatre. Since then\, thousands of movies have been screened in the theatre through its many iterations\, including at the Vegas 70 theatre which is being reactivated for this year’s Heritage Week. Come along from 5.30pm to grab a drink and wander through the exhibition in the Williamson Foyer\, the former candy bar of the cinema\, before the talk.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The BMI’s Twilight Talks series has been a forum for sharing fascinating history and radical futures since 2001\, check out our website for upcoming talks.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Not the Last Picture Show: The Lost City of Melbourne \n \n Gus Berger’s film The Lost City of Melbourne documents some of the many grand theatres\, cinemas and buildings across ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ which were obliterated at the whim of shifting – and short-lived – tastes.  Drawing on archival footage and photographs from the National Film and Sound Archive and the State Library of Victoria\, as well as interviews with historians and experts\, the film traverses lost pockets of the city which were sacrificed to the altar of the ‘modern’ from the 1950’s to 1970’s.   The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is delighted to be screening the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne with a live conversation with director and producer Gus Berger. Berger is also owner-operator of the Thornbury Picture House\, and the pop-up Blow-Up Cinemas.  The film will be screened in the beautifully restored Minerva Theatre\, which debuted the invention of the cinematograph for Ballarat audiences in 1896 and functioned as a cinema for much of the 20th century.  All funds raised from the screening will support the work we do to keep our grand 1860’s building open to the public\, and to continue our purpose to serve the community of Ballarat as intended from our inception 165 years ago. We continue to operate as an independently-run\, not-for-profit organisation\, one of the last remaining of 1\,200 mechanics’ institutes across the state. \n \n Speaker: Gus Berger | Filmmaker \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger is the director & producer of this film and a Melbourne based filmmaker When both of his businesses were forced to close as part of the Victorian lockdowns – Gus started to formulate a film on his city that was in a whole world of pain. Empty streets and shuttered shops. Closed schools & full hospitals. He started to look at what Melbourne was like during its boom years and was not only amazed at the pioneering and enterprising people that shaped the city at the end of the 19th century but was also shocked by the size & beauty of some of its buildings – buildings that are sadly no longer with us. He wondered what happened to the glorious cinemas that were on every street corner and why the grand hotels that hosted Mark Twain & Agatha Christie were no longer standing. What happened in Melbourne in the mid 1950s that brought them all down? So began a project of trawling through online photographs at the State Library of Victoria\, watching old film within the NFSA archives\, reading books on Melbourne history and conducting interviews with experts on Melbourne in his cinema foyer between lockdowns. As Melbourne slowly emerged from its multiple lockdowns and Gus’ cinema was allowed to re-open\, a feature documentary called The Lost City of Melbourne was born. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gus Berger with Sonia Kilkenny\, Planning Minister.\n \n \n \n More about Gus \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Starting at 6pm (bar open at 5.30pm)\, close 8pm. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Cost: $15 general admission | $10 BMI members \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bookings\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2024 Twilight Talks\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thanks to the support of Community Bank Buninyong \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Follow Community Bank Buninyong socials: \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n More Twilight Talks \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n BMI news \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ANZAC Day | Ballarat Arch of Victory & Avenue of Honour\n ANZAC Day Feel the Spirits  The Arch of Victory Avenue... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2026 BMI Appeal | Give now\n A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week\n The Drowning Fiona Lowe Don’t miss Fiona at the BMI... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Ballarat National Theatre | Ballarat Times by Evie Lamb\n Lots to dig about The Dog Logs by Evie Lamb\,... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/bfs-first-cow/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Film ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/first-cow-image.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR