A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | July 2025
Important Dates Hi Folks I have a confession to make- I’m writing this note from a plane heading from Budapest to Nice and it is ...
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Our Library | New Releases & Recommendations July 2025
Go to the Library webpage to view all New Releases. Our Library Why not become a member Up coming Author Talks
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Secret Year of Zara Holt Kimberley Freeman. Melbourne 1927 The summer flowers smell like Christmas the night Zara Dickins meets Harry Holt. It’s party ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Mix UP Kylie Ladd. A beautifully told and thought-provoking novel about a mix-up that leaves two children wondering who they really are and where ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Last Girl’s Cry Alison Belsham. Det Lexi Bennett is walking through the quiet Canterbury streets when she hearsscreaming. Rushing towards the sound, she finds ...
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Book Launch | E. A. Gleeson – The Deepest Thing: A Poetic Memoir
In early May Anne Gleeson launched The Deepest Thing: A Poetic Memoir. The launch was a tremendous success as well evidenced by the photos. If ...
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Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport | Presented in partnership with The Wheeler Centre
For over 30 years, Tracey Lee Holmes has been a trailblazer in Australian broadcasting – breaking ground as the first female host of a national ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
Boney Creek Paula Gleeson. Boney Creek is a dying town where not a lot happens. The perfect solution for married couple Addie and Toby who ...
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2025
Important Dates Ballarat Heritage Festival Hi Folks Hi folks, this month is a bit of a “I’m not sure where to start” kind of month, ...
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Our Library | New Releases & Recommendations June 2025
Go to the Library webpage to view all New Releases. Our Library Why not become a member Up coming Author Talks
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The Royal South Street Society | A BMI Community Partner | You are invited
4 July at 5.30pm | BMI The Grand Unveiling of the Margaret Schofield OAM Memorial Piano Ballarat is set to welcome a world-class musical treasure ...
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Ballart Pride Month 2025
Sunday 1 June – Monday 30 June 2025 Pride Month (June) is the month where we celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Limestone Road Nicole Alexander. Known for her captivating depictions of historical rural Australian life, bestselling author Nicole Alexander returns with her twelfth novel, The ...
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Stella Day Out – Ballarat
Stella Day Out, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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The Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod 2025 | A BMI Community Partner
18 July - 4 August | As BMI associated events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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Ballart Winter Festival
Any BMI events associated with this festival (5 to 27 July) will be listed HERE as details are confirmed.
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Our Library | New Releases & Recommendations May 2025
Go to the Library webpage to view all New Releases. Our Library Why not become a member Up coming Author Talks
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | May 2025
Hello everyone. Firstly I hope you have all received notification of the launch of the BMI Annual Giving Campaign. As we approach the end of ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
Dancers on the Sea: Stories of Atauro Island, Timor Leste. 1994 – 2002 Gabrielle Samson. Dancers on the Sea This story tells of a woman’s ...
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Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2025
BALLARAT INTERNATIONAL FOTO BIENNALE, 23 August - 19 October | BMI events associated with this festival will be listed here as they come to hand.
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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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National Science Week
9 - 17 August | As BMI associated events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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Looking for an adventure next Tuesday at 2pm? Why not take a day tour of the BMI.
These tours are a wonderful way of learning about the history of this important part of Ballaarat’s heritage, still operating 6 days a week. As well ...
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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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Would you like to submit a story or event to the BMI Newsletter?
BMI members are welcome to submit a story, news item or event to the BMI newsletter. If you would like to submit for the BMI newsletter ...
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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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