February 14 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm $10.00 Minerva Space Get tickets My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of Desire Tori Baxter Book launch for My Sweet Monster: A Cautionary Tale of Desire and live conversation event with Author Tori Baxter and Journalist Abby Dinham around motherhood, survival and domestic violence partnerships. My Sweet Monster […]
In conversation with Tori Baxter | Book Launch Read More »
December 2 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets It’s a Scorcher: Tales of the Australian Summer William McInnes Join actor and bestselling author William McInnes in conversation to talk all about his new book It’s a Scorcher: Tales of the Australian Summer – a collection of hilarious and heartwarming stories about those
In Conversation with William McInnes Read More »
February 25 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The One Remaining Paula McLean The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust those who believe in us, and the self-healing power of writing our stories. Hilary Mason is thirteen when her sister Elaine disappears. She
In Conversation with Paula McLean Read More »
October 21 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Winds of Change J Mary Masters Book 5 in the Belleville Family Series As a shocking betrayal unravels, a child’s future hangs in the balance. Cracks appear within the Belleville family. Against this background, a new house will rise from the ashes
In Conversation with J Mary Masters *This event has now been CANCELLED* Read More »
November 18 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets An Ill Wind Margaret Hickey A Small Town Divided – Secrets Are Blown Apart Author of Cutters End and Stone Town High on a hill above the small fictional Victorian town of Carrabeen, 300 wind turbines constantly spin. All except for one, now
In Conversation with Margaret Hickey Read More »
November 5 @ 7:15 pm – 8:00 pm Free Minerva Space Get Tickets Stella Day Out is a free one-day literary festival that celebrates and promotes the outstanding contributions of women and non-binary writers to Australian literature. Cactus Pear for my Beloved: A Family Story from Gaza by Samah Sabawi In conversation 2025 Stella shortlisted
November 5 @ 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm Free Minerva Space Get Tickets Stella Day Out is a free one-day literary festival that celebrates and promotes the outstanding contributions of women and non-binary writers to Australian literature. The Swift Dark Tide by Katia Ariel In conversation Join Katia Ariel for an intimate conversation about her 2024
August 23 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Heritage Reading Room The Fool Laura J. Fitzwilson After his parents and brother are assassinated, Leo is forced to become king of the smallest country on a continent that looks an awful lot like Australia. He faces a kingdom on the brink of bankruptcy and a mistimed
Laura J Fitzwilson, Book Launch – The Fool Read More »
November 6 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The Lucky Sisters Rachael Johns The breakout blockbuster of the year – a deeply moving novel about life, death and the miracles in between, by the award-winning author of The Patterson Girls. The Lucky Sisters…Will their luck run out… What would you do
In Conversation with Rachael Johns Read More »
September 1 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets High Rise Gabriel Bergmoser ‘An expertly executed shot of adrenaline’ – Laura McCluskey ‘Grabs you by the throat and hurls you striaght into the action – Brutally good fun’ – Michael Trant Bestselling author Gabriel Bergmoser returns with his most electrifying novel
In Conversation with Gabriel Bergmoser Read More »
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Night Tours
Fri 31 Oct – Sat 15 Nov
& Fri 12 Dec
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
