Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Series
2024-05-28 14:00 - 2024-10-29 15:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
Twilight Talks: Focus on Ballarat – What We Watched Before Cinema: ‘Entertainments’ at the Mechanics’ Hall, 1863–1919

May 6

@

5:30 pm

-

6:30 pm

$9 – $13

Humffray Room

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What We Watched Before Cinema: ‘Entertainments’ at the Mechanics’ Hall, 1863–1919

Speaker: Ellen Becker

When the Mechanics’ Hall opened in 1863, the people of Ballarat flocked to see some strange and spectacular contemporary entertainments — mesmerists, automata, waxworks, human curiosities, and the magic of the first moving image technologies. Join Curator Ellen Becker in traversing the entertainments held in the hey day of the hall, before it was converted into the Britannia Cinema in 1919.

About the speaker

Ellen Becker, BMI Heritage Collection Curator

Ellen Becker is a museum and cultural heritage professional, currently working as the Heritage Collections Curator at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, as well as Property Coordinator of Old Melbourne Gaol and Polly Woodside at the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

This event will be supported by Community Bank Buninyong

$13 per person plus booking fee, general admission | $9 for BMI members plus booking fee. Book on-line or contact Rosemary at the Libary via email library@ballaratmi.org.au or phone (03) 5331 3042

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This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
