Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The White Crow Michael Robotham Over 5 million copies sold. She upholds the law – Her family breaks it. ‘A twisty-turny, second-guessing great read with ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
High Rise Gabriel Bergmoser An expertly executed shot of adrenaline – Laura McCluskey. Grabs you by the throat and hurls you straight into the action… ...
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Melbourne International Film Festival | Ballarat Screenings
Returning in August for its 73rd edition, the Melbourne International Film Festival is once again hitting the road with the MIFF Regional showcase,bringing a curated ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Girl with the Suitcase Lesley Pearse When Mary meets a glamorous stranger named Elizabeth, she realizes their lives couldn’t be more different. Elizabth is ...
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Our Library | New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks – August 2025
New Releases, Recommendations & Author Talks
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | August 2025
Royal South Street Society | BMI Community Partner I imagine everyone knows what RSSS stands for, but in case you don’t it’s Royal South Street ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Occupation Chloe Adams Don’t miss Chloe and author Alli Sinclair on Wednesday 6 August at 6pm. In the autumn of 1949, two women convene ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
My Name is Emilia del Valle Isabel Allende Abandoned at birth by her Chilean aristocrat father, Emilia comes of age in nineteenth-century San Francisco as ...
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Victorian/Ballarat Seniors Festival
1 October - 31 October 2025 | As BMI associated events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
Irma Gold. Shift In the year of the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter – which outlined the principles of democracy and freedom in South ...
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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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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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Stella Day Out – Ballarat
Stella Day Out, Ballarat 5 November 2025 | As events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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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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BMI Fundraising Events 2025
We have some important fundraising events coming up in Spring and we would love you to participate as either an attendee or sponsor. The funds ...
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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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