Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute

Melbourne Guitar Quartet
2025-08-30 19:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Melbourne) | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350
Meet Thursdays in the Humffray Room

More information about the club

The chess table in the photo (which is part of a collage of portraits of old BMI members) is possibly one of those still in use in the BMI Library on the ground floor. The date of the picture, at a rough guess, is believed to be between 1866 and 1875. C.J. Harvey (shown on the picture), J.Tatham (on the collage) and W.D. Battan (secretary of the BMI, on the collage and who presented the collage to the BMI in 1910) were active chess-players in 1866-67. They played, amongst others, in the infamous Smythesdale handicap-chess tournament, which lasted 8 months, and ended in controversy.

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BMI News

Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Courageous Life of Weary Dunlop Peter FitzSimons AM Don’t...

Rosemary’s Book of the Week
An Ill Wind Margaret Hickey Don’t miss Margaret at the...

The Guardian | The Rural Newtork – I joined the oldest and most overlooked library in my town – and it feels like being part of a secret club – Dellaram Vreeland
The Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute has had a reading room for...

Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Outlaw’s Daughter Anna Romer Notorious bushranger Henry Hawke has...

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A Poet's Guide to Love and Loss | A Ballarat Arts Foundation fundraiser featuring tenor Douglas Kelly
2025-08-31 13:00 - 14:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Gabriel Bergmoser
2025-09-01 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 3, Spring Season | Ballarat's Henry Lawson, Unknown facts presented by Hedley Thomson
2025-09-03 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Kadampa Meditation Series | Focus: The Power of Concentration
2025-09-03 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-10 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport
2025-09-04 18:00 - 19:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Spring Book Sale | Reward yourself with loads of Summer reading
2025-09-06 10:00 - 2025-09-07 14:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Crafting Conversation: The Jewellers Edition
2025-09-10 17:00 - 19:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | Goodbye Julia
2025-09-11 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Fashion Parade Fundraiser | Vintage & Preloved Clothing Shop
2025-09-14 14:00 - 16:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 3, Spring Season | Into the Dragon's Den, The Chinese community in Bendigo
2025-09-17 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

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

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 3, Spring Season | Gold! Gold! Bendigo - Ballarat
2025-09-24 17:30 - 18:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Paula Gleeson
2025-09-25 18:30 - 20:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

A Creative Ballarat Workshop | Why Join? The Perks of Regional Arts Victoria & CRAFT Memberships
2025-09-30 17:30 - 18:30 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Rozzi Bazzani
2025-10-01 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Kadampa Meditation Series | Three Methods for Overcoming Bad Habits
2025-10-01 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-08 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Spaceballs - a FightMND fundraiser
2025-10-04 19:00 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Three Russian Piano Trios
2025-10-05 15:00 - 17:00 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society | To Thank the Room
2025-10-09 19:30 - 21:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

'God of Carnage', A Ballarat National Theatre Production | This season NOW CANCELLED | BNT apologises.
2025-10-16 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-10-19 14:00 - 16:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

In Conversation with J Mary Masters *This event has now been CANCELLED*
2025-10-21 18:00 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Seniors Expo | BMI component now CANCELLED
2025-10-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Ballarat Show Grounds, Ballarat, Australia

Kadampa Meditation Series | How to solve our human problems
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
