When Sullivan Met Lola Monica McInerney Don’t miss Monica who will be talking about her new book at BMI on 5 October at 6pm The eagerly awaited new novel by beloved Australian author Monica McInerney. Lola Quinlan is eighty-six. If her time on earth is running out, she’s not leaving quietly. Against the wishes of […]
Rosemary’s Book of the Week | When Sullivan Met Lola by Monica McInerney Read More »
September 16 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets A Brief, Selected History ‘Herstory’ of Nursing at Ballarat Base Hospital – Over the years. Speakers: Emeritus Professor Margaret Bennett AM Sarah Birtles Shirley Jones Topic Synopsis: The ‘herstory’ of nursing at BBH, now Grampians Health, reflects changing times in Victoria. After looking at what is a nurse in 2026, we briefly glance…
October 7 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets The Importance of Ballarat East Speaker: Doug Bradby Topic Synopsis: In the period 1832-1850 the Chartists of Britain tried and failed to extend Democracy to all male citizens. In the 1850‘s the Chartists of Ballarat succeeded. This talk will explore how the diggers of Ballarat obtained economic power, how they converted that economic…
Twilight Talks: Season 2,The Importance of Ballarat East – Doug Bradby Read More »
September 30 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets Ideas of Love and Loss, Big Challenges and Small Victories. Speakers: Writer, Anne Connor Australian poet, Anne Gleeson Topic Synopsis: In this conversation, writer Anne Connor explores with Australian poet Anne Gleeson ideas of love and loss, big challenges and small victories, as revealed in her most recent poetry collections, Small Acts of…
October 28 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets The Light on the Hill: An Updated History of the Australian Labor Party. by Ross McMullin Speaker: Ross McMullin The Light on the Hill The Light on the Hill is Ross McMullin’s acclaimed commissioned history of the ALP. Hailed as a “classic”, it covers all states and the federal scene comprehensively and accurately…
Twilight Talks for 2026.Thank you to Community Bank Buninyong for supporting this popular community event. Twilight Talks Events (as they confirm) View more on these events
Twilight Talks 2026 Read More »
December 2 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm $9 – $13 Get Tickets 100 Year History of Legacy in Ballarat Speaker: Richard McRoberts Isabella Bates and Lorraine Ellis pass the torch at Ballarat’s iconic Arch of Victory, marking a proud moment in the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023. The event honours 100 years of Legacy Australia’s support for veterans’ families. The Ballarat Legacy Club The Ballarat…
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: Meredith O’Loughlan The Language of your body Neurobiome Wheel Inner circle: regulatory domainsOuter circle: biopatternsThe Neurobiome Wheel is a simple framework that helps decode the body’s signals by connecting symptoms into meaningful health patterns. Combinging ancient…
Twilight Talks: Season 2, Understanding the Language of your Body 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 and book collection reveals how early scientific communication cultivated
150 Years of Botanical Communication 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 reveals the history and significance of this remarkable collection,
Arresting the Ephemeral: The Beautiful Usefulness of a Victorian Herbarium Read More »
Fundraiser for Ballarat RSL & BMI
$33 per person
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.
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
Sunday 6 September at 2pm - Cost $65
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.
