The Artwork of the BMI | Special Programs

Lending Library Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, Australia

A detailed look at the restoration of The Girl in the Bonnet and other needy artworks in the collection. Book attendance | $15 BMI members | $25 Regular fee. Bookings View the full list of Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI Ballarat Heritage Festival | BMI Melba Opera Trust Scholars announced for 4 June […]

$15

The Photography of the BMI | Special Programs

Lending Library Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, Australia

The BMI is home to thousands of photographs of Ballarat through the ages.  Through the lens of several different photographers and collectors including Max Harris,  the BMI might just have that photograph you are looking for! Book attendance | $15 BMI members | $25 Regular fee. Bookings View the full list of Ballarat Heritage Festival […]

$15

Life Drawing in the Basement

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Unleash you artistic potential on Sunday 21 May & Sunday 28 May, two sessions each day starting at 2pm & 7pm each day, duration two hours each session. Attention, all ye aspiring artists and lovers of the fine arts! A most exceptional life drawing session awaits thee in the depths of a heritage basement, reminiscent […]

$40

Life Drawing in the Basement

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Unleash you artistic potential on Sunday 21 May & Sunday 28 May, two sessions each day starting at 2pm & 7pm each day, duration two hours each session.Attention, all ye aspiring artists and lovers of the fine arts! A most exceptional life drawing session awaits thee in the depths of a heritage basement, reminiscent of […]

$40

Digitisation Workshop | AMaGa | Geraldine Brault

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Digitisation workshop Capturing high-quality images of your catalogue records serve as a digital preservation copy of our collections while also allowing for increased public access and decreased physical handling. This workshop will provide you with an opportunity to work one-on-one to learn the basics of museum photography such as camera settings and operations, lighting, and image […]

Conservation for non-conservators

Heritage Reading Room Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

This workshop is being delivered in Ballarat in partnership with AMaGA Victoria and AICCM. The day will consist of a presentation and discussion focusing on the preventive care of collections including risks, storage and display guidelines, storage and display materials, and basic mount making techniques. The workshop will also include 3 hands on activities. The […]

$70

Chamber Music in Ballarat | All Beethoven Duo Recital

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Violinist Susan Pierotti and pianist Brian Chapman join forces to present a Duo-Recital comprising a rich and varied selection of works by Ludwig van Beethoven. The concert opens with a perennial favourite - the engagingly melodious "Spring" Sonata in F, Op.24, followed by the composer's final Violin Sonata - the serenely pastoral G major Sonata […]

$15 – $35

Australian Burlesque Festival | The Big Teaser

BMI - Minerva Space 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC

Headliner: Ferri Maya Host: Tash York Special Guest Performers: Cherry Velour Delores Daiquiri Artists: AZCADELIA Desert Diamonds Fandom Femmes Minnie Mayhem Summer Dragonfly Velma Vouloir Vincent Prize The Australian Burlesque Festival presents The Big Teaser! The Australian Burlesque Festival presents an exciting new show that opens prior to the official launch of the national tour. Get […]

$55

Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute | Victorian Seniors Festival

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

The Tour (by day) A colourful history of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and it’s people. These tours are lead by volunteer tour guides. Victorian Seniors Festival Attendees $5, non seniors $10 per person (Seniors Status identity to be shown). Accessiblity - Note Most of this tour is wheelchair accessible, however the tour does include entry into the […]

$5

Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute | Victorian Seniors Festival

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

The Tour (by day) A colourful history of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and it’s people. These tours are lead by volunteer tour guides. Victorian Seniors Festival Attendees $5, non seniors $10 per person (Seniors Status identity to be shown). Accessiblity - Note Most of this tour is wheelchair accessible, however the tour does include entry into the […]

$5

Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute | Victorian Seniors Festival

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

The Tour (by day) A colourful history of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and it’s people. These tours are lead by volunteer tour guides. Victorian Seniors Festival Attendees $5, non seniors $10 per person (Seniors Status identity to be shown). Accessiblity - Note Most of this tour is wheelchair accessible, however the tour does include entry into the […]

$5

The Photography of the BMI | Victorian Seniors Festival | Now fully Booked

Lending Library Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, Australia

The BMI is home to thousands of photographs of Ballarat through the ages.  Through the lens of several different photographers and collectors including Max Harris.  Join us for a curator-led tour of the BMI's photographic exhibition as part of the Ballarat Foto Biennale, as well as a special viewing of some treasures from our collection […]

$5
Guides in period costume

Minerva's Secrets Night Tours

Night Tours

Fri 31 Oct – Sat 15 Nov

& Fri 12 Dec
 

Tour 1 at 7pm
Tour 2 at 9pm. 

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

Tax Deductible 

Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.

We need
your help.

2024 End of Financial Year Appeal 

 
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Or alternatively go to our Donations web page.

Our Challenge

Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges. 

We thank you for your support.
The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

Featuring the BMI Image Collection | Now $20

Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60

Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May. 

Spring Season, History Talks:

Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!

Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm. 

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

guides dressed in period costum

Australian Heritage Festival

Minerva's Secrets

25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets. 

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm. 

Linen & Lace Exhbition

Includes Devonshire Tea | $20

Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm

with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm. 

Ballart Seniors Festival 

Celebrate at the BMI.

 October 2025. 

Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

 Coming in November

Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey

with Michael Robotham

 Wed 20 August at 6pm. 

Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm. 

Raise a Glass for Brass. 

The Little Brass Band BMI Fundraiser

Sun 10 August at 2pm. 

 Coming soon

Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.

 Coming soon

Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns

Thu 16 Oct – 19 Oct 

Remembrance Day:

A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia

Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm. 

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing