December 2 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets 100 Year History of Legacy in Ballarat Speakers: Richard McRoberts & Peta Gillespie Preferred topic image above Topic Synopsis: Topic Synopsis About the speakers Preferred speaker images above Speaker bios Legacy, Ballarat > Why not become a Legatee > […]
Twilight Talks: Season 2, 100 Year History of Legacy, Ballarat Read More »
November 25 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets Create Better Health by Understanding the Language of Your Body: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science & the Microbiome Connection. Speaker: Dr Meredith O’Loughlan MAppSc(Res), BAppSc(HB), BAppSc(CM), BSW, ACNEM The Language of your body Neurobiome Wheel Inner circle: regulatory domains Outer circle:
Twilight Talks: Season 2, Understanding the Language of your Body Read More »
Events staged in conjunction with our Heritage Collection will be displayed here.
BMI Collection Events Read More »
August 7 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm $15 Get Tickets Before digital databases and photography, how did we learn about the natural world? This Biodiversity Week, discover the BMI’s rare set of Ferdinand von Mueller’s Educational Collections of Victorian Plants (1874–1876). Designed to “diffuse information on the native vegetation” across Victoria, this historic herbarium
150 Years of Botanical Communication Read More »
Melbourne Rare Book Week 24 Jul – 2 Aug 2026 | As BMI associated events are confirmed they will be listed HERE.
Melbourne Rare Book Week 2026 Read More »
July 24 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Free Humffray Room Get Tickets The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is custodian of the most intact surviving set of the Educational Collections of Victorian Plants (1874–1876). A herbarium and series of books compiled by the first Chief Botanist of the Colony of Victoria, Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller. This presentation
Arresting the Ephemeral: The Beautiful Usefulness of a Victorian Herbarium Read More »
July 11 @ 7:00 pm – 8:50 pm $38.50 – $77 Minerva Theatre Get Tickets Written by Jenny Davis A compelling true story from WWII, honouring the bravery strength, love and hope of Australian Army Nurses in the face of adversity. Directed by Stuart Halusz Featuring Caitlin Beresford-Ord, Rebecca Davis, Michelle Fornasier, Alex Jones, Tegan
May 6 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets What We Watched Before Cinema: ‘Entertainments’ at the Mechanics’ Hall, 1863–1919 Speaker: Ellen Becker When the Mechanics’ Hall opened in 1863, the people of Ballarat flocked to see some strange and spectacular contemporary entertainments — mesmerists, automata, waxworks, human curiosities,
April 22 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour & A look behind names on the Avenue plaques Speakers: Amethyst May & Gary Snowden About the speakers Amethyst May Amethyst May is a student at Mount Clear College who has a passion for Australia’s war history.
Twilight Talks: Focus on Ballarat – Ballarat Avenue of Honour Read More »
April 15 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Humffray Room Get Tickets Henry Lawson in Ballarat – Revisited Speaker: Hedley Thomson ‘Last November Hedley Thomson provided an entertaining and informative presentation about Henry Lawson’s 1887 visit to Ballarat to explore the Eureka Rebellion sites. This year he will return to this topic,
Twilight Talks: Focus on Ballarat – Henry Lawson in Ballarat revisited Read More »
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
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
