Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute

Kadampa Meditation Series | Stillness in Motion: Living Spiritually in a Fast-Paced World
2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
The BMI has recently worked with Grimwade Conservation Services to perform urgently required conservation work on a number of significant items from the Heritage Victoria registered collection. This work was carried out as part of a Victorian Government Living Heritage Grant awarded in 2021, with work completed in December 2022. These items include original volumes of Australian plant specimen books compiled by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, and associated books written by von Mueller, an original artwork known to have belonged to the BMI from the early days of the Institute and various other valuable books needing cleaning and restoration work. The primary exhibition will showcase these remarkable items within the Heritage listed building that is the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute. The proposed accompanying events will include creative programming to showcase this work, the wider BMI collection and the historic building and introduce or re-introduce the wider public to “their” Institute. Invitations will be extended to other special interest organisations to bring their members to learn why Ballarat was considered an important centre for learning and knowledge sharing, even in the 19th century.

Cost/Entry Fee: Free to BMI members | $5 for non-members

Book here

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The Dog Logs, A Ballarat National Theatre Production
2026-04-10 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-11 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-15 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-16 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-17 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-18 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-19 14:00 - 15:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Brian Chapman & Friends: A Trio of Stunning Piano Quartets
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Gerardine Christou: The story of Peg Rankin
2026-04-14 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Twilight Talks: Focus on Ballarat - Henry Lawson in Ballarat revisited
2026-04-15 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Kadampa Meditation Series | Love Changes Everything: How to Transform Yourself & the World Around You
2026-04-15 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-22 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Fiona Lowe
2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Twilight Talks: Focus on Ballarat - Ballarat Avenue of Honour
2026-04-22 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | Only The Animals
2026-04-23 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour
2026-04-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-24 21:00 - 22:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Twilight Talks: Focus on Ballarat - Nostalgic memories of Stawell & Ballarat - 1950s and 1960s
2026-04-29 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Anna Johnston
2026-04-30 18:30 - 20:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Artistanbul: Create your own Turkish Mosaic Lamp
2026-05-03 13:00 - 16:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Pub Cinemas Presents: 'In The Shadow of the Gallows' & short film 'Vendetta 19'
2026-05-04 19:00 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Twilight Talks: Focus on Ballarat - What We Watched Before Cinema: ‘Entertainments’ at the Mechanics’ Hall, 1863–1919
2026-05-06 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

One Tease Rules Them All: Fellowship of the G-String - The Burlesque Parody
2026-05-08 19:30 - 21:30, 2026-05-09 19:30 - 21:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Teeny Tiny Stevies - Brain Fart Tour
2026-05-09 10:00 - 11:30 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

In Conversation with Victoria Purman
2026-05-11 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
