Venue Hire

The Minerva
Space

Our large flat floor Grand Hall complete with a tiered stage and professional lighting, audio, and projection system. It is perfect for performances and live music, but is extremely versatile that it can host events from as sit-down dinners and wedding receptions to movie screenings and art exhibitions.

The Humffray
Room

Our beautiful, medium size, ballroom complete with a small dance floor and inbuilt bar area. It is great for larger meetings, small music concerts and wedding ceremonies, and cocktail functions. This room houses our 1913 C Bechstein Grand Piano and it also has a balcony with views up and down Sturt Street.

The Hugh Williamson Foyer​

Our smallest and most intimate room. It is perfect for small meetings or consultations, and also to use as a break-out room with direct access to the bathroom facilities. It is also on the same floor as the finishing kitchen.

The Hooper
Room

On our ground floor and is great for classes or small lectures. It is our most frequently used room with regular users such as the Ballarat Chess Club, Kadampa Meditation, and a number of training providers. This room adjoins a small kitchenette and a toilet.

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

The Minerva Space

360° Tour

View this space in a 360° tour

The Minerva Space provides a majestic backdrop for concerts, conferences, presentations, performances, weddings, formal dinners, parties, cinema, exhibition space and training.

Its exquisite heritage features offers elegance of years gone by whilst providing state of the art facilities including cinema quality projection with a large presentation screen, a main proscenium-arch stage, a lectern and risers, a full professional sound system, a recently updated lighting rig, and internet access throughout.

This room is fully accessible via the lift from the front foyer.

Room hire fees and technical specifications can be found on the Venue Hire Information page via the button below.

 
Gallery – The Minerva Space in action

The Humffray Room

360° Tour

View this space in a 360° tour

The Humffray Room, a beautifully restored heritage room, (1869) on the second level overlooking Sturt Street, can hold up to 100 seated theatre-style, 60 seated dinner-style and standing capacity for 180 guests.

The room is ideal for conference and training, forums, small wedding ceremonies and receptions, parties and recitals. The room has a bar/servery, carpeted floor with small dance floor, projection facilities, Wi-Fi access plus a professional JBL PA system.

It can also be utilised as a breakout room for the larger Minerva Space for catering or pre-function food and drinks.

This room is fully accessible via the lift from the front foyer.

Room hire fees and technical specifications can be found on the Venue Hire Information page via the button below.

The Hugh Williamson Foyer

This room is on the Mezzanine level immediately below the Humffray Room. It has lift access and holds up to 30 people seated theatre style, up to 50 standing. It is suitable for meetings, training, small celebrations and classes. It is serviced by our preparation kitchen, has projection capability, Wi-Fi access and a whiteboard upon request.

The Hooper Room

On our ground floor is our original classroom. Since the 1870s this space has been used for lectures and classes, as well as hosting clubs and associations. It has previously been home to the Ballarat Chess Club and Kadampa Meditation Ballarat.

This room adjoins a small kitchenette and a toilet.

NOTE: This room is currently not available for hire. The Hooper Room is being used to store a large amount of our newspaper collection and therefore is not appropriate to use for functions. This page will be updated if the situation changes.

Views: 3,481
Christmas Holiday Closures | Library

Monday 23 December – Sunday 5 January

Devonshire Tea & Fashion Parade

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

The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute 2025 Calendar

Featuring the BMI Image Collection | $40

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.

BMI Fundraiser

Featuring:
The Hideaways,
The Harmonies &
Surf Shadows. 

2 course dinner & lots
of dancing