BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute - ECPv6.16.5.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH 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:20250405T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20251004T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20270403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20271002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20280401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20280930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T203000 DTSTAMP:20260629T040002Z CREATED:20260223T053749Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T040002Z UID:70821-1787252400-1787257800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:You Can't Tell Anyone\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/you-cant-tell-anyone-20-aug/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/YCTA-ATDW-1600-x-1200-px-e1782429973747.png ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260821T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260821T203000 DTSTAMP:20260629T035851Z CREATED:20260629T033353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T035851Z UID:73961-1787338800-1787344200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:You Can't Tell Anyone\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/you-cant-tell-anyone-21-aug/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/YCTA-ATDW-1600-x-1200-px-e1782429973747.png ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260822T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260822T153000 DTSTAMP:20260629T035740Z CREATED:20260629T033533Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T035740Z UID:73963-1787407200-1787412600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:You Can't Tell Anyone\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/you-cant-tell-anyone-22-aug-matinee/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/YCTA-ATDW-1600-x-1200-px-e1782429973747.png ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260822T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260822T203000 DTSTAMP:20260629T035634Z CREATED:20260629T033731Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T035634Z UID:73965-1787425200-1787430600@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:You Can't Tell Anyone\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/you-cant-tell-anyone-22-aug/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/YCTA-ATDW-1600-x-1200-px-e1782429973747.png ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260823T130000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260823T143000 DTSTAMP:20260630T001508Z CREATED:20260629T033831Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T001508Z UID:73967-1787490000-1787495400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:You Can't Tell Anyone\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/you-cant-tell-anyone-23-aug-matinee/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/YCTA-ATDW-1600-x-1200-px-e1782429973747.png ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260823T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260823T193000 DTSTAMP:20260630T015250Z CREATED:20260629T033929Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T015250Z UID:73969-1787508000-1787513400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:You Can't Tell Anyone\, A Ballarat National Theatre Production 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/you-cant-tell-anyone-23-aug/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Ballarat National Theatre,Theatre Production ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/YCTA-ATDW-1600-x-1200-px-e1782429973747.png ORGANIZER;CN="Ballarat National Theatre":MAILTO:contact@bnt.org.au END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260905T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260906T140000 DTSTAMP:20260619T051824Z CREATED:20260604T032725Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T051824Z UID:73413-1788602400-1788703200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Book Sale | Reward yourself with some excellent Spring reading 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/book-sale-spring-bmi/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-spring-book-sale.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260906T140000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260906T160000 DTSTAMP:20260604T035434Z CREATED:20260514T044101Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260604T035434Z UID:72995-1788703200-1788710400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Fashion Parade Fundraiser | Vintage & Collectables 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/fashion-parade-fundraiser-vintage-collectables/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Important Dates,Members,Vintage & Collectables ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/promotional-square-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260910T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260910T210000 DTSTAMP:20260331T033843Z CREATED:20260129T052341Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T033843Z UID:70438-1789068600-1789074000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Kōkā 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarat-film-society-koka/ 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/2026/01/koka-sq-promo.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260923T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260923T193000 DTSTAMP:20260619T021935Z CREATED:20260618T020721Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T021935Z UID:73660-1790186400-1790191800@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with P. A. Swanborough 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-with-p-a-swanborough/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sp-promo-talks-pa-swanborough-v2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260929T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260929T193000 DTSTAMP:20260706T013903Z CREATED:20260630T040425Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T013903Z UID:74057-1790704800-1790710200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Sally Mackinnon 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-with-sally-mackinnon/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sp-promo-talks-sally-mackinnon.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261001T180000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261001T193000 DTSTAMP:20260619T055107Z CREATED:20260618T013735Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T055107Z UID:73652-1790877600-1790883000@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:In Conversation with Michael Robotham 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/in-conversation-with-michael-robotham/ LOCATION:BMI – Minerva Space\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350 CATEGORIES:Author Talk,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sp-promo-talks-michael-robotham.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261008T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261008T210000 DTSTAMP:20260331T033815Z CREATED:20260129T054045Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T033815Z UID:70446-1791487800-1791493200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Bound for Glory 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarat-film-society-bound-for-glory/ 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/2026/01/bound-for-glory-sq-promo.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261009T190000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261009T220000 DTSTAMP:20260331T023230Z CREATED:20260203T013254Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T023230Z UID:70535-1791572400-1791583200@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Telegraph Road - The Dire Straits Legacy: Matt Arthur and The Lazybones 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/telegraph-road-the-dire-straits-legacy/ LOCATION:The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Live Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/matt-arthur-sq-promo.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Matt Arthur Music":MAILTO:matt@mattarthurmusic.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261125T173000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261125T183000 DTSTAMP:20260625T023611Z CREATED:20260623T232758Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T023611Z UID:73816-1795627800-1795631400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Twilight Talks: Season 2\, Understanding the Language of your Body 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/twilight-talks-season-2-the-language-of-your-body/ LOCATION:BMI – Humffray Room\, 117-119 Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, VIC\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Twilight Talks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-tt-language-of-your-body.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261210T193000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261210T210000 DTSTAMP:20260414T073342Z CREATED:20260129T055545Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T073342Z UID:70454-1796931000-1796936400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Ballarat Film Society | Smiley Gets a Gun 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/ballarat-film-society-smiley-gets-a-gun/ 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/2026/01/smiley-sq-promo.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261212T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261213T140000 DTSTAMP:20260619T051722Z CREATED:20260619T034945Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T051722Z UID:73676-1797069600-1797170400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Book Sale | Reward yourself with some excellent Christmas reading 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/book-sale-reward-yourself-with-some-excellent-christmas-reading/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-christmas-26.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270501T100000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270502T140000 DTSTAMP:20260619T051712Z CREATED:20260619T051024Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T051712Z UID:73683-1809165600-1809266400@ballaratmi.org.au SUMMARY:Book Sale | Reward yourself with some excellent Autumn reading 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 Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch\n Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.\n The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence\,1940 Thrown out of... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026\n Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Newsletter – July 2026\n Rosemary's New Releases and Recommendations | Author Talks - Live... \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Load More URL:https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/book-sale-reward-yourself-with-some-excellent-autumn-reading/ LOCATION:Lending Library\, Sturt Street\, Ballarat Central\, Victoria\, 3350\, Australia CATEGORIES:Fundraiser,Library ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ballaratmi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/square-promo-autumn-26.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR