Rosemary’s Book of the Week
Peter Stevens: Much More Than Cars Dr Phil Roberts OAM. This is the story of a successful Ballarat businessman involved in multiple community enterprises. The book, ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Florentine Quilt Chrissie Bellbrae. The Florentine Quilt is a beautifully written tale woven over multiple timelines connecting three women and a medieval quilt. The ...
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | March 2025
Hello everyone. Autumn is here, and as the leaves start to come down here are some updates from the BMI! Mark has done the usual ...
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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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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
Outrageous Fortunes Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex. The gripping story of Australia’s first female crime writer and her career-criminal son. When Mary Fortune arrived in ...
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Twilight Talks 2025 | Season 1 & 2
TWILIGHT TALKS 2025 | Season & 2, as events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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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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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Mystery of Haverford House Rachel Burton. A Mystery that will bind generations… 1933 – Annie Bishop is sixteen years old when she first unlocks ...
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Ballarat Heritage Festival
BALLARAT HERITAGE FESTIVAL, 16 - 25 May | BMI events associated with this festival will be listed here as they come to hand.
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Australian Heritage Festival: Unearthed
AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Unearthed. 18 April to 18 May 2025. BMI related events will be listed here as they confirm.
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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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Golf Day Fundraiser | Results and Review
We had a blast at the inaugural BMI Golf Day last December! Congrats to the day’s wonderful sponsors and winners @haymespaint We’d like to thank all ...
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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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