August 26 @ 6:45 pm – 10:30 pm $20 – $25 Get Tickets Take part in this important BMI fundraiser Put your local knowledge to the test at a fun and engaging Trivia Night at the historic Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute! Gather your friends and join us for an evening of fascinating questions about Ballarat’s rich […]
BMI Trivia Night Fundraiser Read More »
August 1 @ 7:00 pm – 11:50 pm $150 Get Tickets The Anything for a Mate (AFAM) Charity Ball is on again. The AFAM Ball was an idea from a group of friends who wanted to do something to help a mate. What it evolved into was the biggest non-corporate donation made to The NBCF
Anything for a Mate: Charity Ball Read More »
August 31 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm $20 – $39 Humffray Room Get Tickets A Poet’s Guide to Love and Loss Join us for an intimate afternoon of beautiful music featuring critically acclaimed tenor Douglas Kelly and pianist Tom Griffiths at the Ballarat Arts Foundation’s annual fundraiser. Hear a moving program of songs by Schumann, Barber and
May 25 @ 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm $31.25 – $62.00 Minerva Space Get tickets Benefit concert for the Conservation Ecology Centre Please join us for a very special and sugarplum-sweet afternoon of music that raises funds for the ecosystems of the Victoria’s precious Otway Ranges. We’ve planned a sublime late-Autumn Sunday afternoon for you
Sweet Sounds for the Otways Read More »
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
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm.
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.
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
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
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.
2 course dinner & lots
of dancing
