PRE-SALE | Fashion Parade and Afternoon Tea | Vintage & Collectables
Ticket available for PRE-SALE from 10am Thursday 6 August until Sunday 9 August at 6pm
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week – A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker
A Murder in Springtime Martin Walker Bruno, chief of police of the Dordogne town of St Denis, is no stranger to murder. But when he ...
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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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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Second Wife Ali Lowe The Fairchild family have it all. But as Sydney Harbour Bridge starts to disappear in the rear-view window of the ...
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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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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Model Murder Amanda Hampson Don’t miss Amanda who will be in conversation with local radio presenter Prue Bentley talking about Amanda’s new book at ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
The Marriage Trap Victoria Purman Don’t miss Victoria who will be in conversation with radio presenter Prue Bentley at the BMI on Monday 11 May ...
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | May 2026
Welcome to another jam packed Newsletter! I hope some of you have been able to attend the first couple of Twilight Talks for the year ...
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Rosemary’s Book of the Week
Peg Rankin: A Journey of Faith and Resilience Peter Rankin SDB with Gerardine Christou Don’t miss Gerardine at the BMI on Tuesday 14 April at ...
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Executive Manager Update – April 2026
Executive Manager Update – Nev Ivey Since commencing at BMI, I have been struck by the genuine passion, knowledge, and commitment that each staff member ...
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A Message from the Chair | BMI Board of Directors | April 2026
The BMI certainly had a busy and productive 2025/2026 financial year, filled with so much generosity of spirit, innovative thinking, positive action and energy that ...
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Stella Prize 2026 Long List
Stella Prize The 2026 Stella Prize Longlist presents another twelve exceptional works by Australian women and non-binary writers. Spanning poetry, memoir, fiction, non-fiction and graphic works, the 2026 ...
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The Royal South Street Society | 2026 Season Events
2026 Season Events Victoria’s largest youth performing arts pathway and a critical contributor to the regional creative workforce pipeline. Entries for all disciplines open on ...
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21 HEARTS, A Theatre 180 Production | By popular demand
21 HEARTS: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke, a THEATRE 180 production We are pleased to announce that THEATRE 180 have agreed ...
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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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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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National Science Week
15 - 23 August | As BMI associated events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
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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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