Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Butterfly Woman Madeleine Cleary It’s 1863, and Melbourne is transitioning from a fledgling colony to a thriving, gold-fuelled metropolis. But behind its shiny new ...
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City’s cinephiles set for a silver screen season | Ballarat Times
Ballarat Film Society The Ballarat Film Society is set to kick off another year of thought provoking cinema next month. Christopher O’Leary – Ballarat Times ...
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BMI Monthly Calendar 2026 – On Sale
$40 – Now on sale at $20. Limited stock left This year our 2026 calendar will feature twelve illustrations from the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute heritage book collection. All funds ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Riviera Secret Sarah Steele Nestled into the pine-dusted coastline of the Cap d’Antibes is the dazzling white Chateau Violette. When British diplomat Lord Sinclair ...
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | February 2026
Happy New Year to all our members and other subscribers and recipients of our newsletter. We are off to a flying start with all services ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Piano Woman Rozzi Bazzani Reeling from the breakup of her ‘forever’ romance, writer Maddison Brown is trying to rebuild her life and get her ...
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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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Jerry Wong Piano recital | Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute
Jerry Wong Concert review by Bronislaw Sozanski… As part of the Ballarat Organs and Fine Music Festival this January, Jerry Wong delivered an outstanding recital, ...
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Feel the Spirits Tours
Feel the Spirits Tours BMI Patron Phil Roberts Last April, when introducing the three Twilight Talk speakers, I mentioned that Geraldine and I are members ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Other Child Susi Fox Don’t miss Susi & Geoff Parkes at the BMI on Wednesday 28 January at 6pm From the author of bestselling ...
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Ballart Pride Month 2026
Sunday 1 June – Monday 30 June 2026 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 First Law of the Bush Geoff Parkes Don’t miss Goeff & Susi Fox at the BMI on Wednesday 28 January at 6pm From the ...
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Ballarat Craft and Design Week: Bound
1 – 10 May 2026 Ballarat is set to launch a bold new chapter in its creative journey with the inaugural Ballarat Craft and Design ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The House of Doors Tan Twan Eng Willie Somerset Maugham is one of the greatest writers of the early twentieth century. But in 1921 he ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Last Love Song Lucinda Riley When Sorcha O’Donovan encounters struggling musician Con Daly – the strikingly handsome outcaste in their small coastal village in ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Endless Sky Di Morrissey Top-rating TV presenter Nicole and her savvy producer and friend Stacie suddenly find themselves under the rule of a new ...
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National Science Week
15 - 23 August | As BMI associated events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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BMI Monthly Calendar 2026
$40 – limited stock This year our 2026 calendar will feature twelve illustrations from the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute heritage book collection. All funds raised will go towards supporting the BMI ...
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Our Library | New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks – December 2025
New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks
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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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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | December 2025
Hello everybody, it is hard to believe we are writing the December edition of the BMI newsletter, but while the year seems to have dashed ...
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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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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | November 2025
The Governor was especially pleased to have a tour with myself and Ellen. I’d like to thank Katrina Hill for her involvement in the tour. ...
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Ballarat Begonia Festival
7 to 9 March 2026 Festival Highlights Begonia Parade | Conservatory display | Family entertainment | Markets | Food and drink. Events at the BMI ...
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Ballarat Heritage Festival
21 – 24 May 2026 With Ballarat’s stunning Victorian architecture as the backdrop the annual festival highlights the city’s golden past and evolving future. Stay ...
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School tour of the BMI – October 2025
School Tours of the BMIOn 9 October the BMI hosted students from: Lucas Primary School Lal Lal Primary Delecombe Primary Buninyong Primary, and, Mt Egerton ...
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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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BMI Fashion Fundraiser Photos
Fashion Fundraiser September saw the BMI Fashion Parade event transform the Minerva into a glamourous catwalk setting, as almost 60 attendees enjoyed vintage fashions from ...
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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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Australian Heritage Festival | 2026 Theme: Change
AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Unearthed. 18 April to 18 May 2026. BMI related events will be listed here as they confirm.
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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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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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