books

In Conversation with Anna Romer

20/08/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10 The Ghost of Briar Rose Anna Romer Everyone says the old mountainside house is haunted. Which is perfect because ghost hunter Cleary Branchwood knows it’s easy money. He’ll buy the propertydirt  cheap, flush out the poor wretch of a ghost they call Briar Rose, and resell for an unthinkable sum to investors from Melbourne. Simple,…

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In Conversation with J.P. Pomare

04/09/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10 17 Years Later: Who really killed the Primrose family by J.P. Pomare. The unputdownable new bestseller by multi-award-winning author J. P. Pomare. Who killed the wealthy Primrose family? The violent slaughter of the Primrose family while they slept shocked the nation. Their young live-in chef, Bill Kareama, was swiftly charged with murder and brought to

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In Conversation with Margaret Hickey

08/08/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10 The Creeper by Margaret Hickey. The chilling new mystery novel from the award-winning author of bestsellers Cutters End, Stone Town and Broken Bay. Victim … or killer? For the last decade, the small mountain town of Edenville in Victoria’s high country has been haunted by the horrific murders of five hikers up on Jagged Ridge. Also found dead near

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In Conversation with Pam Swanborough

28/05/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10 Red Gifts in the Garden of Stones by Pam Swanborough Suspiciously long-lived matriarch Lizzie Coombe expects her one hundredth birthday to be memorable, But what comes after will never be forgotten by anyone in this close-knit Welsh community. Lizzie and her daughter Myfanway only remember old love from long dead sweethearts, granddaughter Sarah Maud is

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portrait of author

In Conversation with Paula Gleeson

04/06/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10 Original Twin by Paula Gleeson Two sisters May and June couldn’t be more different. May is quiet, self-conscious withdrawn; June is boisterous, beautiful, magnetic…and missing. It’s been a year since June disappeared, a year of May waiting for her to turn up with an explanation of where she’s been and why she left. But with

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In Conversation with Garry Disher

28/04/2024 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm $20 Sanctuary by Garry Disher Grace is a master thief, specialising in valuable stamps, watches and jewellery.  She never stays long in one place, so when she’s recognised at a Brisbane stamp expo, she must  go on the run again. But she’d like a shot at a normal life, and settles in the Adelaide Hills, where she

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In Conversation with Imbi Neeme | This event has now been cancelled

05/03/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10 Kind of Sort of Maybe… but probably not by Imbi Neeme A charming, nostalgic, quirky, uplifting novel of people young and old finding their tribe, gaining courage to be themselves and perhaps falling in love, too.Kind of Sort of Maybe… but probably notLibrarian Phoebe Cotton lives with misophonia. The sound of other people crunching an

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Fundraiser for Ballarat RSL & BMI

$33 per person

Minerva's Secrets Night Tours

Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults

Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm. 

BMI Fundraising Events book donation promotional image

Calling for Pre-loved books

These donation assist in our Library Fundraising Activities

We can take delivery during regular Library operating hours. See website footer.

Spring Season, History Talks:

Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!

Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm. 

Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Vintage Fashion Parade

Bubbly on arrival featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop

Sunday 6 September at 2pm - Cost $65

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2026 Calendar

Featuring illustrations from our Heritage Book Collection $40

Tax Deductible 

Your gift will be tax-deductible this financial year if you make it before June 30.

We need
your help.

2024 End of Financial Year Appeal 

Or alternatively go to our Donations web page.

Our Challenge

Like many organisations the BMI faces significant funding challenges. 

We thank you for your support.