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, […]
Ballarat Film Society | Flow Read More »
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
Pub Cinemas Presents: ‘In The Shadow of the Gallows’ & short film ‘Vendetta 19’ Read More »
October 4 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm $18 Minerva Theatre Get tickets Join us at 7pm on October 4th for a screening of the cult classic Spaceballs to raise much needed funds for FightMND. In 2013, we lost my dad, Ian, from MND. In his memory, we are raising funds and participating in this
Spaceballs – a FightMND fundraiser Read More »
April 26 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Minerva Space Get Tickets An Evening with Mick Marshall About the Screening Advanced screening of the uncut version of the documentary Beyond Limits, telling the remarkable true story of Mick Marshall’s fight to run again. The audience will have the opportunity to not only watch the yet
Beyond Limits | An Evening with Mick Marshall Read More »
May 24 @ 10:00 am – 10:45 am $23.05 Get tickets Returning for one morning only The Vegas 70 was once the most popular cinema in Ballarat. The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and Showbiz Cinemas have collaborated to bring back the Vegas for the Ballarat Heritage Festival. The first moving pictures (called cinematograph) in Ballarat were
The Vegas 70 returns to Ballarat | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Mary Poppins Read More »
May 23 @ 8:30 pm – 10:45 pm $23.05 Get tickets Returning for one night only The Vegas 70 was once the most popular cinema in Ballarat. The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and Showbiz Cinemas have collaborated to bring back the Vegas for the Ballarat Heritage Festival. The first moving pictures (called cinematograph) in Ballarat were
The Vegas 70 returns to Ballarat | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Chinatown Read More »
May 23 @ 6:30 pm – 8:15 pm $23.05 Get tickets Returning for one night only The Vegas 70 was once the most popular cinema in Ballarat. The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and Showbiz Cinemas have collaborated to bring back the Vegas for the Ballarat Heritage Festival. The first moving pictures (called cinematograph) in Ballarat were
The Vegas 70 returns to Ballarat | Ballarat Heritage Festival | Blazing Saddles Read More »
October 9 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Award Winning Australian Documentary Best Melbourne Documentary 2024 at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, To Thank the Room is about the last 100 days of the iconic Brooklyn Arts Hotel in Fitzroy. This heart-warming and inspiring documentary is an intimate portrait of Maggie Fooke, the creator of the hotel,
Ballarat Film Society | To Thank the Room Read More »
December 11 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Musical Doco ‘The south is the home of all things queer,’ says scholar Zandria Robinson as we witness the exhilarating jam-packed story of Little Richard’s complex life and musical career, ending only in 2020. Born in 1932 as Richard Wayne Penniman, by 1955 Little Richard was declared
Ballarat Film Society | Little Richard: I am Everything Read More »
November 13 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Compelling Cold War Political Thriller In 1961, the charismatic Swedish diplomat, economist and implacable idealist Dag Hammarskjöld was in his seventh year as Secretary-General of the United Nations. By some, he was considered the ‘clearest thinker in the room,’ but by others as the victim of a
Ballarat Film Society | Hammarskjöld: The Fight for Peace Read More »
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm.
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.
Coming in November…
Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey
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
Pre-Sale $60 from 6 Aug to 9 Aug - $65 thereafter
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.
