23/08/2025 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Heritage Reading Room The FoolLaura J. Fitzwilson After his parents and brother are assassinated, Leo is forced to become king of the smallest country on a continent that looks an awful lot like Australia. He faces a kingdom on the brink of bankruptcy and a mistimed sneeze away from being drawn into a war; a…
23/08/2025 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm $30.45 Get Tickets Step into the world of Six String Blues— from the melodies of Delta icons like Robert Johnson to the soul-stirring sounds of Chicago legends such as Muddy Waters, and into the electrifying licks of modern maestros like Eric Clapton and John Mayer, this show bridges generations of blues brilliance. Matt Arthur On stage,…
27/08/2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 – $12 Lending Library These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance. Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our daily…
30/08/2025 @ 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm $33 – $36.30 Minerva Space Get Tickets Melbourne Guitar Quartet (MGQ) Expanding the sound world of the classical guitar Celebrating two decades at the forefront of Australian chamber music, the Melbourne Guitar Quartet has established itself as one of the country’s most distinctive and dynamic ensembles. Renowned for their rich, orchestral sound and innovative arrangements, MGQ brings a…
31/08/2025 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm $20 – $39 Humffray Room Get Tickets A Poet's Guide to Love and Loss Join us for an intimate afternoon of beautiful music featuring critically acclaimed tenor Douglas Kelly and pianist Tom Griffiths at the Ballarat Arts Foundation’s annual fundraiser. Hear a moving program of songs by Schumann, Barber and Butterworth exploring themes of love, loss and longing. Douglas Kelly, recipient…
01/09/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets High RiseGabriel Bergmoser 'An expertly executed shot of adrenaline' - Laura McCluskey'Grabs you by the throat and hurls you striaght into the action - Brutally good fun' - Michael Trant Bestselling author Gabriel Bergmoser returns with his most electrifying novel yet, High Rise – an adrenaline charged, heart-stopping, action-packed masterpiece that…
03/09/2025 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9.73 – $13.83 Bar open at 5pm $9.73 – $13.83 Humffray Room Get tickets Ballarat's Henry Lawson, Unknown facts presented by Hedley Thomson The young Henry visited Ballarat, specifically to ‘bone up’ on the happenings at Eureka on Sunday 3rd December 1854; he proceeded to write numerous poems and prose pieces about the ‘battle’ and – more so…
03/09/2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 – $12 Lending Library These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance. Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our daily…
04/09/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm $11.78 Presented in Partnership with The Wheeler Centre September 4 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm $11.78 Minerva Space Get Tickets Image courtesy The Wheeler Centre The Eye of the Dragonfly: A Life Seeing the World Through Sport. by Tracey Lee Holmes With honesty and insight, Tracey Lee Holmes looks back on a pioneering career and…
06/09/2025 @ 10:00 am - 07/09/2025 @ 2:00 pm Free Lending Library Books priced from $1 - more for collectable items. Don't miss our book sale this weekend. Admission and parking are free (one hour on Saturday, all day Sunday). There are hundreds of books - some of which are in gently used condition and some in mint condition - and many start at a…
10/09/2025 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm $35 5.30pm start. $35 Venue: Humffray Get Tickets Crafting Conversation A Panel Series for Makers in Business Real talk - Generous insight - A creative space to learn, reflect and connect Launch of quartley in person Panel Series - The Jewellers Edition Jewellers Panel: Alana Smith, Lucie HB, and Jessica Larm The Panel will discuss the…
10/09/2025 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 – $12 Lending Library These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance. Classes include guided meditations and teachings to help us solve our daily…
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm.
Linen & Lace Exhbition
Includes Devonshire Tea | $20
Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.
Coming soon…
Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns
Coming soon…
Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.
Coming in November…
Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey
Australian Heritage Festival
Minerva's Secrets
25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets.
Spring Season, History Talks:
Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!
Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm.
Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60
The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2026 Calendar
Featuring illustrations from our Heritage Book Collection $40
Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.
Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges.
2 course dinner & lots
of dancing
