Lantern Vaults – Prize Winner
Saturday 30 May at 10am & 11am | After sell out sessions of the beautiful Lantern Vaults installation at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute during the ...
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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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NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC 2026 National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | The Secrets of Provence by Daisy Wood.
The Secrets of Provence Daisy Wood Provence,1940 Thrown out of occupied Paris by the Nazis, brave, beautiful Mathilde finds refuge with her cousin in Provence, ...
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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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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | For All The Dead Girls by Sherryl Clark
For All The Dead Girls Sherryl Clark Don’t miss Sherryl who will be in conversation with local fellow author Tracey Rolf who will be talking ...
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BMI Collection Events
Events staged in conjunction with our Heritage Collection will be displayed here.
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week | Where Truth Ends by Mark Smith
Where Truth Ends Mark Smith Don’t miss Mark who will be in conversation with local radio presenter Gavin McGrath talking about Mark’s new book at ...
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From the Curator | Arresting the Ephemeral
The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is custodian of the most intact surviving set of the Educational Collections of Victorian Plants (1874–1876). A herbarium and series of books compiled ...
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | June 2026
May unfolded as another vibrant and exciting month for the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute with new activities and visitors weaving throughout an already busy regular schedule. ...
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Melbourne Rare Book Week 2026
Melbourne Rare Book Week 24 Jul – 2 Aug 2026 | As BMI associated events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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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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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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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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