heritage

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Doctor’s Perspective

April 9 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Bar open at 5pm $9.73 – $13.83 Humffray Room Get tickets War Grieving from a Doctor’s Perspective Grief is a natural response to loss. War Grief is complex.  Ballarat’ s participation in WW1 was substantial: about 4000 men from Ballarat enlisted in World War One and approximately […]

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 2 | Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective: War Grieving – Doctor’s Perspective Read More »

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Changes to the Canadian Corridor

March 26 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Bar open at 5pm $9.73 – $13.83 Humffray Room Get tickets The Changing Face of the Canadian Corridor This talk will outline the impact of the goldrush and forestry on the corridor’s native vegetation and waterways. Featuring the long gone Bunny Railway, mining water races, mining infrastructure,

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Changes to the Canadian Corridor Read More »

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Change in Ballarat’s Car Industry

March 19 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Bar open at 5pm $9.73 – $13.83 Humffray Room Get tickets Changes in Ballarat’s Car Industry Panel Discussion: Chair, Phil Roberts OAM, Patron & Twilight Talks Coordinator. Dr Phil Roberts OAM Phil Roberts is the co-ordinator of the BMI Twilight Talks and BMI Patron. He is a former

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Change in Ballarat’s Car Industry Read More »

Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967

Curated by BMI Heritage Curator – Ellen Becker December 11 @ 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm Bar open at 6pm $15 – $35 Minerva Theatre Get tickets Don’t Look Back Director: D.A. Pennebaker, 1967 (1hr 36m) Bob Dylan To celebrate the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s Medieval to Metal exhibition, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute is screening three

Medieval to Metal Rockumentary Film Series: ‘Don’t Look Back’ 1967 Read More »

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Ballarat’s Growth: Infrastructure Pressures

March 12 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Bar open at 5pm $9.73 – $13.83 Humffray Room Get tickets Ballarat’s Growth – Infrastructure Pressures Panel Discussion: Chair, Paula Nicholson, BMI President Paula Nicholson | Chair, Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute Panel Members Terry Natt, Strategic Planning Manager, City of Ballarat Terry has been an urban planner in

Twilight Talks 2025, Season 1 | Ballarat’s Changing Scene – Ballarat’s Growth: Infrastructure Pressures Read More »

Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

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.
The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

Featuring the BMI Image Collection | Now $20

Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

Bubbly on arrival & Featuring quality items from our Vintage Shop | $60

Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May

Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective

Wed 2-30 April, 5.30pm

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm

with Michael Robotham

 Wed 20 August at 6pm

guides dressed in period costum

Australian Heritage Festival

Minerva's Secrets

25 April – Tour 1 at 7.30pm – fully booked
Tour 2 at 9.30pm – still tickets. 

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May at 6pm

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm

with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm

with Kylie Ladd

 Wed 25 June at 6pm

Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing