01/09/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets High RiseGabriel Bergmoser 'An expertly executed shot of adrenaline' - Laura McCluskey'Grabs you by the throat and hurls you striaght into the action - Brutally good fun' - Michael Trant Bestselling author Gabriel Bergmoser returns with his most electrifying novel yet, High Rise – an adrenaline charged, heart-stopping, action-packed masterpiece that…
18/09/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The Florentine QuiltChrissie Bellbrae ‘Breath-taking settings, strong female characters, mystery, intrigue and romance ... The Florentine Quilt has it all, and will keep you up turning the pages long after your usual bedtime.’ - Pamela Cook, author, writing coach and podcaster. 'Three women connected in time to a medieval quilt and an ancient…
25/09/2025 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Boney Creek: A ThrillerPaula Gleeson 'Smart, twisty...thriller, you won't want to miss...' - Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Glass When several small-town locals die under mysterious circumstances, an aspiring journalist is determined to prove the connection between them, only to discover the dangerous secrets they…
01/10/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets One NightRozzi Bazzani One Night - Two Bodies - Three Crimes When Detective Sergeant Bec Harpin answers a call for help from her friend, barrister Carolyn Moorhouse, she suddenly finds herself on the wrong side of an investigation that threatens to derail her career. Not only does Bec have to decide how…
21/10/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Winds of Change J Mary Masters Book 5 in the Belleville Family Series As a shocking betrayal unravels, a child's future hangs in the balance. Cracks appear within the Belleville family. Against this background, a new house will rise from the ashes but not bbefore the old house gives up its…
05/11/2025 @ 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 Stella shortlisted debut The Swift Dark Tide and her second novel Ferryman:…
05/11/2025 @ 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 author Samah Sabawi is joined by Fatima Measham to…
06/11/2025 @ 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 you thought each day on earth might just be…
18/11/2025 @ 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 deadly still with a limp body hanging from one…
02/12/2025 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets It's a Scorcher: Tales of the Australian Summer William McInnes Join actor and bestselling author William McInnes in conversation to talk all about his new book It’s a Scorcher: Tales of the Australian Summer – a collection of hilarious and heartwarming stories about those magical, roastingly hot summer months. There is something about…
February 14 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm $10.00 Minerva Space Get tickets My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of DesireTori BaxterBook launch for My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of Desire and live conversation event with Author Tori Baxter and Journalist Abby Dinham around motherhood, survival and domestic violence partnerships. My Sweet Monster | Tori Baxter About ToriTori Baxter is a Melbourne-based writer whose…
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 fears someone close to the family is involved but…
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
