In Conversation with Kerri Rogan
2026-05-13 18:30 - 20:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 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

View the full list of Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

Ballarat Heritage Festival | BMI

Rosemary’s Book of the Week
Dickie Larsen’s Pumpkin and other stories Geoff Carr The 2026...

Lantern Vaults opens hidden basement of Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute
This May, the rarely seen basement vaults beneath the Ballaarat...

Rosemary’s Book of the Week
When lemons give you life Anna Johnston Don’t miss Anna...

2026 BMI Appeal | Give now
A message from the President Support the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute...

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Kadampa Meditation Series | Love Changes Everything: How to Transform Yourself & the World Around You
2026-05-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | Black Dog
2026-05-14 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Victorian Occult Conference
2026-05-16 08:30 - 18:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Minerva's Secrets | Night Tour
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-05-19 21:00 - 22:00, 2026-06-12 19:00 - 20:00, 2026-06-12 21:00 - 22:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Lantern Vaults | Special Preview
2026-05-19 19:30 - 20:30 | The Basement, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Lantern Vaults
2026-05-21 10:00 - 2026-05-24 16:00 | BMI – Multiple Spaces, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Heritage Festival - Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute
2026-05-21 11:30 - 2026-05-24 12:15 | Meet in the Foyer, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Australia

Panic from the Sky: A Call of Cthulhu Advenure
2026-05-22 19:00 - 20:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Amanda Hampson
2026-05-27 18:30 - 20:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | Monster
2026-06-11 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

In Conversation with Mark Smith
2026-06-23 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Whistle and Trick
2026-07-04 10:00 - 11:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

21 HEARTS: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke, a THEATRE 180 production | SOLD OUT
2026-07-10 11:00 - 12:50 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

21 HEARTS: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke, a THEATRE 180 production
2026-07-10 19:00 - 20:50, 2026-07-11 11:00 - 12:50 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

In Conversation with Benita Bensch
2026-07-15 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | Journey Home
2026-07-16 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

God of Carnage, A Ballarat National Theatre Production
2026-07-23 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-25 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-26 14:00 - 16:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

In Conversation with Phillipa Nefri Clark
2026-07-29 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Blake Pavey: A Bit Scared
2026-08-07 19:30 - 20:40 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

In Conversation with Sophie Green
2026-08-12 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | The Blue Trail
2026-08-13 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
