Research

The BMI is a prestigious heritage building with unique heritage collections and stories to match.

The BMI Research Collection includes;
- Reference Collection
- Heritage Collection
- BMI Archives
- BMI Audio and Visual Collection

The BMI Board of Management is committed to maintain the BMI from the ravages of time, and to ensure that the building is relevant to today’s society. Without recurrent government funding, the BMI relies on the support of the community to help preserve the building and shape its future for the next generation of users.

Collection acquisition scope and process

An acquisition committee assesses donations to the BMI collections and requires donors to complete associated paperwork.

Key collecting areas are:

• Digital audio-visual material and paper ephemera relating to Ballarat city life
• Books for both lending library and Research Collection as per our collection criteria of relevance, condition etc.
• Ongoing collection of the Ballarat Courier