Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute

Kadampa Meditation Series | Meditations for A Clear Mind
2025-07-23 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-09 19:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
Ballarat Film Society | Smiley Gets a Gun

December 10

@

7:30 pm

-

9:00 pm

BMI – Minerva Space

Further Adventures of Smiley

Our screening of Smiley (1956) two years ago was popular with film society members. In this sequel, Smiley is a young Aussie upstart and cheeky home-grown hero, who sets out to turn over a new leaf and become a ‘responsible citizen’ after his past misadventures. Sergeant Flaxman (Chips Rafferty) keeps a keen eye on the rapscallion and promises to award him a brand new .22 rifle if he stays out of trouble. Smiley of course scoots around in his mad-cap daily life desperately trying to keep his word, but eventually getting accused of stealing gold from little old granny McKinley (Sybil Thorndike). Filmed over an eight week period towards the end of 1957, shooting took place at Camden and then Pagewood Studios in Sydney. Have a walk down memory lane to a time when a Christmas present for a kid could be a .22 rifle! Roadshow.

Australia, 1958, 90 min. Dir: Anthony Kimmins. Stars Keith Calvert as Smiley, Sybil Thorndike, Leonard Thiele and Ruth Cracknell in her first feature film.

Ballarat Film Society

Membership 12 months – Feb-December: $60Feb-July: $35 – July-Dec: $30 To join or renew your membership, please e-mail or phone Angus McLachlan (5374 2474), or come with cash on the night. Membership can be paid by bank transfer or with cash. For film enquiries, phone Sue Nunn: 5341 2266 or visit the Ballarat Film Society website All films are subject to availability. If there is no next film shown below it means the BFS is working on next season’s programme.

Royal South Street Society | Schimmel Pianoforte Schedule
2025-07-23 09:15 - 21:00, 2025-07-22 09:15 - 18:00, 2025-07-21 09:15 - 21:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Royal South Street Society | Freemasons Vocal Schedule
2025-07-20 09:30 - 20:00, 2025-07-19 10:00 - 21:30, 2025-07-18 17:00 - 21:30, 2025-07-18 12:30 - 15:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Irma Gold | This event has now been CANCELLED due to low ticket sales
2025-07-16 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Ballarat Winter Festival 15 July
2025-07-15 14:00 - 15:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Andrew Hamilton | Jokes about the time I went to Prison
2025-07-11 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Ballarat Film Society | Sweet As
2025-07-10 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Matthew Spencer
2025-07-09 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Author Talk | Ella Stone - 'Breakfast With You' | Now CANCELLED
2025-07-08 18:00 - 19:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Author Talk | J.S. Davidson 'Hunted' & 'Tethered' | Now CANCELLED
2025-07-08 15:00 - 16:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Ballarat Winter Festival 8 July
2025-07-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Royal South Street Society | Margaret Schofield OAM | Memorial Grand Piano Unveiling
2025-07-04 17:30 - 19:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Kadampa Meditation Series | Meditations for Relaxation
2025-07-02 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-25 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

The Australian Barbra Streisand Show | Featuring Rachael Grace
2025-06-29 14:00 - 16:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Kylie Ladd | This event has now been CANCELLED
2025-06-25 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

'Next Fall', A Ballarat National Theatre Production
2025-06-22 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-21 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-06-21 14:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-20 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-06-19 19:00 - 22:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Ballarat Film Society | La Chimera
2025-06-12 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
