01/04/2025 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Three Boys Gone Mark Smith. Complex and Compelling in all the right ways – Jane Harper… Mark Smith presents the ultimate moral dilemma in a breathtaking psychological thriller. Would you try to save them? ‘First rule of rescue: don’t create another casualty.’ Grace Disher is about to face every teacher’s worst…
In Conversation with Mark Smith Read More »
29/04/2025 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Vanish Shelley Burr. Some Stay. Some Leave. Some Disappear… Author, Shelley Burr | Photo: Yen Eriksen Media People go to the isolated Karpathy farm looking for a new life… and are never seen again. A chilling thriller from the award-winning and bestselling author of Australian noir, Shelley Burr.Lane Holland’s crime-solving career
In Conversation with Shelley Burr Read More »
24/03/2025 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets Wild Dark Shore Charlotte McConaghy. New York Times Best Selling Author From the New York Times bestselling author of Migrations and Once There Were Wolves, a novel about a family living alone on a remote island, when a mysterious woman washes up on shore. At once a gripping mystery, an exquisitely written ode to the natural
In Conversation with Charlotte McConaghy Read More »
25/02/2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $10 Humffray Room Get Tickets Outrageous Fortunes Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex Megan & Lucy will be hosted in conversation by Dr. Meg Tasker The Adventures of Mary Fortune, Crime-writer, and Her Criminal Son ‘Engrossingly illuminating and ultimately deeply moving’ – John Connolly ‘Mary Fortune’s bold fictions electrified colonial Australia. But her own story, pieced together
In Conversation with Megan Brown & Lucy Sussex Read More »
01/05/2025 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $11.78 Humffray Room Get Tickets The Mademoiselle Alliance Natasha Lester. Inspired by a True Story A remarkable Australian talent – The Age A master storyteller – Daily Telegraph How did a young Parisienne mother, celebrated for her beauty and glamour, come to lead the largest spy network in France? A powerful, heartbreaking historical novel by the
In Conversation with Natasha Lester Read More »
18/02/2025 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm $10 Humffray Room Get Tickets Cleaved Jane Cafarella. A story of loss, legs and finding family It’s important that genuine stories such as this be published to show the extra-ordinary, day-to-day courage of so-called ‘ordinary’ people – Highly recommended – Hazel Edwards OAM Former journalist for The Age and critically acclaimed Australian playwright and cartoonist, Jane
In Conversation with Jane Cafarella Read More »
16/11/2024 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Free STELLA DAY OUT: Travel Writing | Adriane Howell and Favel Parrett in conversation with Fiona Sweet. | 16 November 3pm – 4pm | Free.
26/10/2024 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Free Humffray Room Squat John Safran. An unmissable opportunity to hear John Safran recount his time squatting in a celebrity’s abandoned mansion. Enquiries: Any event specific enquires should be direct to Collins Booksellers on Lydiard Free. Bookings Collins Booksellers, Ballart on Lydiard This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People
In conversation with John Safran | Now moved to The George Hotel Read More »
21/10/2024 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm $10 Humffray Room The Valley Chris Hammer. The sins of the father | The love of a daughter | The secrets that divide them. The international bestselling author of: Scrublands & The Seven The latest stunning thriller from the bestselling author of Scrublands and The Seven. Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are back – and Nell is thrown
In Conversation with Chris Hammer Read More »
16/11/2024 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Free STELLA DAY OUT: Writing about the Future | Kate Mildenhall in conversation with Van Badham | 16 November 1pm – 2pm | Free
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.
