July 28 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm $11.00 Tuesdays at 2pm | A colourful history of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and it’s people. By appointment only, (to organise a volunteer guide we require 24hrs notice). Group Tours: Group tours can also be accommodated on other days. We also offer specialty tours, information on these can be found on our Building Tours webpage.
August 7 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm $15 Get Tickets Before digital databases and photography, how did we learn about the natural world? This Biodiversity Week, discover the BMI’s rare set of Ferdinand von Mueller’s Educational Collections of Victorian Plants (1874–1876). Designed to “diffuse information on the native vegetation” across Victoria, this historic herbarium and book collection reveals how early scientific communication cultivated…
November 25 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets Create Better Health by Understanding the Language of Your Body: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science & the Microbiome Connection. Speaker: Dr Meredith O'Loughlan MAppSc(Res), BAppSc(HB), BAppSc(CM), BSW, ACNEM The Language of your body Neurobiome Wheel Inner circle: regulatory domains Outer circle: biopatterns The Neurobiome Wheel is a simple framework that helps decode the…
December 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets 100 Year History of Legacy in Ballarat Speaker: Richard McRoberts Isabella Bates and Lorraine Ellis pass the torch at Ballarat's iconic Arch of Victory, marking a proud moment in the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023. The event honours 100 years of Legacy Australia's support for veterans' families. The Ballarat Legacy Club…
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm.
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.
Calling for Pre-loved books
These donation assist in our Library Fundraising Activities
We can take delivery during regular Library operating hours. See website footer.
Coming in November…
Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey
Australian Heritage Festival
Minerva's Secrets
25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets.
Spring Season, History Talks:
Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!
Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm.
Bubbly on arrival featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop
Pre-Sale $60 from 6 Aug to 9 Aug - $65 thereafter
The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2026 Calendar
Featuring illustrations from our Heritage Book Collection $40
Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.
Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges.
2 course dinner & lots
of dancing
