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    Stella Day Out Ballarat | Katia Ariel ‘The Swift Dark Tide’ in conversation with Kelly Gardiner

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

    November 5 @ 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm Free Minerva Space Get Tickets Stella Day Out is a free one-day literary festival that celebrates and promotes the outstanding contributions of women and non-binary writers to Australian literature. The Swift Dark Tide by Katia Ariel In conversation Join Katia Ariel for an intimate conversation about her 2024 […]

    Free
  • Featured

    Stella Day Out Ballarat | Samah Sabawi ‘Cactus Pear For My Beloved’ in conversation with Fatima Measham

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

    November 5 @ 7:15 pm - 8:00 pm Free Minerva Space Get Tickets Stella Day Out is a free one-day literary festival that celebrates and promotes the outstanding contributions of women and non-binary writers to Australian literature. Cactus Pear for my Beloved: A Family Story from Gaza by Samah Sabawi In conversation 2025 Stella shortlisted […]

    Free

  • In Conversation with Rachael Johns

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

    November 6 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The Lucky SistersRachael Johns The breakout blockbuster of the year - a deeply moving novel about life, death and the miracles in between, by the award-winning author of The Patterson Girls. The Lucky Sisters...Will their luck run out... What would you do if […]

    $11.78

  • In Conversation with Margaret Hickey

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

    November 18 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets An Ill Wind Margaret Hickey A Small Town Divided - Secrets Are Blown Apart Author of Cutters End and Stone Town High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one, now […]

    $11.78

  • In Conversation with Paula McLean

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

    February 25 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The One Remaining Paula McLean The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust those who believe in us, and the self-healing power of writing our stories. Hilary Mason is thirteen when her sister Elaine disappears. She […]

    $11.78
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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. 

Get Tickets

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

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electronic noticeboard calendar HALF PRICE
The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

Featuring the BMI Image Collection | Now $20

Purchase yours now
Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

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

BMI Fundraiser tickets here
Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Performance tickets
More information

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May. 

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Spring Season, History Talks:

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

Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm. 

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Get Tickets

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

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Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Performance tickets
More information
portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

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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. 

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portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm. 

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with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm. 

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Linen & Lace Exhbition

Includes Devonshire Tea | $20

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

BMI Fundraiser tickets here

with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm. 

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Ballart Seniors Festival 

Celebrate at the BMI.

 October 2025. 

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Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

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Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

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 Coming in November…

Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey

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with Michael Robotham

 Wed 20 August at 6pm. 

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Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm. 

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Raise a Glass for Brass. 

The Little Brass Band BMI Fundraiser

Sun 10 August at 2pm. 

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 Coming soon…

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

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 Coming soon…

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

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Get Tickets

Thu 16 Oct – 19 Oct 

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Remembrance Day:

A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia

Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm. 

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Get Tickets

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing

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