February 12 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Minerva Room Animated Animal Ecofable We begin 2026 with a beautiful animated film about a wide-eyed curious cat and other animals seeking refuge on a boat as their human-free world of eerie buildings and enormous statues is inexplicably and rapidly flooded. As the waters carry them along, they traverse magical, […]
February 14 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm $10.00 Minerva Space Get tickets My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of DesireTori BaxterBook launch for My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of Desire and live conversation event with Author Tori Baxter and Journalist Abby Dinham around motherhood, survival and domestic violence partnerships. My Sweet Monster | Tori […]
February 15 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm $5 – $40 Minerva Space Get Tickets This event was designed to bring world class quality world music to Ballarat, where locals frequently have to travel to find music of such high quality. Joseph Tawadros AM is a leading Oud virtuoso, composer and 8 time ARIA-award winner. […]
February 18 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 Lending Library, ground floor These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance. Classes […]
February 25 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The One Remaining Paula McLean The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust those who believe in us, and the self-healing power of writing our stories. Hilary Mason is thirteen when her sister Elaine disappears. She […]
February 25 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Free – $12 Lending Library, ground floor These classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings. The in-person setting fosters a supportive community and offers real-time interaction with the teacher for personalized guidance. Classes […]
February 28 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm $20.50 Humffray Room Get Tickets 'A celebration of resilience, a hymn to the unwavering power of the human spirit, a poetic whisper that echoes into eternity' Experience a mesmerising night of art rock, spoken word, and experimental sound as Danielle Whalebone presents Whispers of Shadows an immersive […]
March 2 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $21.00 Minerva Space Get Tickets Presented by Pub Cinemas: In the Shadow of the Gallows In 1873 a frail figure was walked to the gallows at the Adelaide Gaol. She had been convicted of murdering her husband, and there would be no reprise. The hanging of Elizabeth […]
March 10 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Christian White J.P. Pomare The Long Night Christian White From the author of The Ledge A mother will do anything to save her daughter... Em has lived a quiet life with her complicated mother and is now looking for love and a […]
March 12 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Minerva Room Contemporary Mumbai Drama/Romance The first Indian film to receive the Grand Prix at Cannes, and primarily set in contemporary Mumbai, All We Imagine as Light centres on three Hindu women, their everyday lives and the bonds that they share with one another as well as with the larger world. […]
March 15 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm $79 – $129 Humffray Room Get Tickets DIY Workshop | Turkish Mosaic Lamp Bring colour, light, and creativity together in this hands-on Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop hosted by ArtIstanbul, right in the heart of Ballarat.Guided by our friendly instructors, you’ll design and build your very own mosaic […]
March 22 @ 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space Scottish Country Dance is the social and special occasion dancing style of Scotland.And its heaps of fun! Our group meets on Monday nights at Ballarat North Community Centre.New dancers are always very welcome. Come along and try it or just check it […]
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Night Tours
Fri 31 Oct – Sat 15 Nov
& Fri 12 Dec
Tour 1 at 7pm
Tour 2 at 9pm.
Linen & Lace Exhbition
Includes Devonshire Tea | $20
Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.
Coming soon…
Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns
Coming soon…
Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.
Coming in November…
Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey
Australian Heritage Festival
Minerva's Secrets
25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets.
Spring Season, History Talks:
Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!
Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm.
Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60
The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2026 Calendar
Featuring illustrations from our Heritage Book Collection $40
Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.
Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges.
2 course dinner & lots
of dancing
