Executive Manager Update – September 2026
BMI – President Paula Nicholson Paula is currently away. Our Executive Manager, Nev Ivey has provided the following report… Executive Manager Update – September Newsletter ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Neighbourhood Watch by Lauren Williams
Neighbourhood Watch Lauren Williams Don’t miss Lauren and Penny Tangey who will be talking about their new books (Neighbourhood Watch & What Rhymes With Murder?) ...
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Stage Ready: Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, supporting arts in regional and remote Australia.
Stage Ready programs will be listed here as they are confirmed. The BMI has received funding to launch Stage Ready — a new non-formal technical-theatre training ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Red Lake by Jason Summers
Red Lake Jason Summers Sergeant Harper Quinn has returned to her sleepy hometown Koorinda in search of a quieter life. Until she learns that the ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Frock Shop by Sophie Green
The Frock Shop Sophie Green Don’t miss Sophie who will be in conversation with Jane Nield talking about Sophie’s new book at BMI on 12 ...
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Trivia Night Fundraiser – NOW CANCELLED
BMI Trivia Night Put your local knowledge to the test at a fun and engaging Trivia Night at the historic Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute! Gather your ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Cold River by Margaret Hickey
Cold River Margaret Hickey Deep in the mountains, secrets grow deadly… Detective Constable Sally White knows how easily hikers can go missing in Victoria’s high ...
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Our Library | New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks – August 2026
New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks
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Lantern Vaults – Prize Winner
Lantern Vaults Prize Winner has been drawn The raffle draw for Amanda Western’s work that brought you Lantern Vaults to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute during ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Seen Again by Benita Bensch
Seen Again: Light On Matrescence Benita Bensch Don’t miss Benita who will be in conversation with Dellaram Vreeland talking about Benita’s new book at BMI ...
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2026
Membership Contriubtions I imagine many of you have received requests for financial assistance from many organisations, as the month of June draws to a close ...
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ABC Radio interview with BMI Heritage Collection Curator Ellen Becker
From the Heritage Collection Curator – Interview with ABC Radio Sydney | Nightlife – Tuesday 23 Dec 2025 at 10pm The Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute, or ...
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Update from Liam Mudge, Venue Manager | Stage Ready
Stage Ready The BMI has received funding to launch Stage Ready — a new non-formal technical-theatre training program for regional creatives. The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute (BMI) ...
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The Guardian | The Rural Newtork – I joined the oldest and most overlooked library in my town – and it feels like being part of a secret club – Dellaram Vreeland
The Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute has had a reading room for 165 years but today it has just 530 members – and tens of thousands of ...
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School tour of the BMI – October 2025
On 9 October the BMI hosted students from: Lucas Primary School - Lal Lal Primary - Delecombe Primary - Buninyong Primary, and, Mt Egerton Primary
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Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute – Life Time Membership, Heritage Collection Volunteer, Marion Blythman
Marion Blythman Marion has been working on the BMI Heritage Collection for about 18 years! She loves working with her current volunteer team, Dani ...
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CDS Victoria, Collection Deposit Scheme | Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute
The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is now registered as a charity for donations. We are raising funds to purchase new display shelves to improve access, usability, ...
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Ballarat Chess Club | Reinactment of the 1925 Chess Tournament
The re-creation of the 1925 chess tournament between Ballarat and Geelong, August 10. Members of the Ballarat Chess Club and BMI Patron Dr Phil Roberts ...
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Rex’s Snippets | The Basement… The Truth
Why are there windows in the basement? This is an updated account on the original article written by heritage architect, consultant and good friend of ...
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Rex’s Snippets | Cornish Pumping Engines
A Treatise On the 20th. June 1868, the secretary of the BMI, Mr. Batten, wrote to Mr. W.F.Fowler in London, the following… “Only one vol. ...
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Gift & Unveiling Function | From John Mildren OAM & Mildren Family
John Mildren OAM was the Federal Member for Ballarat 1980-1990. Prior to his election to Federal Parliament, he had been from 1970 a Senior Lecturer ...
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Rex’s Snippets | Visiting the BMI? | Where are you?
Newspaper Reading Room | Victoria League Room (ground floor) Lending Library | Batten Room Stand in the entry to the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and straight ...
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BMI Notables | Contribution by Neil Leckie | Dr James Robert Pound, Benefactor
James Robert Pound was born to Mr James Henry and Mrs Selina Maude (nee Walton) Pound at their home Lyndon in Riversdale Road Auburn, Victoria ...
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Rex’s Snippets | The BMI The Early Days
This is a open file of the minutes of the Institute from the inaugural meeting in 1859 to the annual meeting in 1863. It shows ...
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From the Curator | MacRobertson’s Steam Confectionery Works
Did you enjoy an Old Gold, Freddo Frog or Cherry Ripe chocolate over Easter? These much-loved chocolates were first manufactured by MacRobertson’s Steam Confectionery Works. ...
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From the Curator | Messer & Opie
Old friends William ‘Bill’ Messer and Francis ‘Frank’ Opie first opened their tailors on Bridge Street in 1935. The two had first known each other ...
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From the Curator | The Ballarat Courier
This month we are featuring the old Ballarat Courier building on Sturt Street. The Courier was established by Robert Clark and Edward J. Bateman in ...
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Would you like to help in delivering BMI services
A call for expressions of interest for:1) Anyone with the RSA certificate (or anyone willing to undertake the ‘Responsible Service of Alcohol’ certificate) to volunteer ...
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Significance Assessment of the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute Collection
The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute has been selected to receive a Community Heritage Grant to the value of $5,500 (excluding GST) for the Significance Assessment of ...
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