May 21 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Free The Basement* Plus bkg. fee Get Tickets Lantern Vaults A new immersive installation in the basement of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute as part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival The work is shaped by historical research and guided by the voice of Florence Batten, the twelve- year-old […]
May 17 @ 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm $169.63 Venue Get Tickets Dame Nellie Melba… Join us for an evening to celebrate Dame Nellie’s birthday, with foods named in her honour and music to match from the Melba Opera Trust artists. There will be performances by the Melba Artists during the five course dinner. Dame
Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Dinner – This event has now been CANCELLED. Read More »
May 18 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm $39.96 Venue Get Tickets An afternoon of song, arias and duets… The BMI in partnership with Melba Opera Trust. Meet the 2025 Melba artists, as they perform a repertoire that celebrates the Birthday of Dame Nellie Melba – program coming soon… The Artists SOPHIE HAMER British-Australian Sophie
Dame Nellie Melba Celebration Performance Read More »
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
