Unsettling: An insight into landscape change from Barry Golding

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Professor Barry Golding is speaking on his insights into the changing conservation and care of 6 peaks in Southern Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Bunanyung Landscape Alliance is proud to present a FREE talk by Prof Barry Golding. A respect for landscape is built into our name. We recognise that landscapes change, and that our perceptions […]

Free

Chamber Music in Ballarat | All Beethoven Duo Recital

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Violinist Susan Pierotti and pianist Brian Chapman join forces to present a Duo-Recital comprising a rich and varied selection of works by Ludwig van Beethoven. The concert opens with a perennial favourite - the engagingly melodious "Spring" Sonata in F, Op.24, followed by the composer's final Violin Sonata - the serenely pastoral G major Sonata […]

$15 – $35

Meet the Author | Maya Linnell

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Maya LinnellFrom country show baking to raising orphaned lambs, bestselling author Maya Linnell writesabout the life she lives and loves. A keen bookworm, former rural journalist and radio show host.Maya is also an ambassador for the digital library app Libby OverDrive. She lives in rural Victoriawith a menagerie of animals, sweeping gardens, three bookworms and […]

Jock Serong | In Conversation

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Jock Serong We’re excited to be bringing acclaimed author Jock Serong back to Ballarat after his success facilitating our much loved Ann Cleeves event last year. Jock will be In Conversation with debut author, Lyn Yeowart. Don’t miss this chance to see this engaging speaker live. Lyn Yeowart | Credit LJM Photography The Settlement | Jock […]

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 2, Session 4 | Ballarat Heritage Festival

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Twilight Talks is back on again to celebrate the Ballarat Heritage Festival. We have a great line-up of talks: Restoration of BMI Treasures  Featuring Grimwade Conservation Services representatives outlining the recent restoration of the Baron von Mueller plant specimen folios, restoration of valuable books and heritage painting. This project was supported by a Living Heritage Grant […]

$20.

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 2, Session 2

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Twilight Talks is back on again. We have a great line-up of talks: Military History - How do we remember? Peter Dowling Local member of the Ballarat WAGS (Wireless Airgunners School). Motivated to find out more of his father’s and uncle’s experiences in WWII, Peter Dowling has been a member and now President of the […]

$8.

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 2, Session 1

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Twilight Talks is back on again. We have a great line-up of talks: Music and Entertainment History Ailsa DuBois Ailsa chose Ballarat as her home over 18 years ago. She holds two Masters degrees: Journalism (UTS) and Writing & Literature (Deakin), among other qualifications. She is Vice-President of the community-based ‘Ballarat Arts Alive’. Steve Rattle, […]

$8

Book Launch | Look Back on Languor: The memoir of a hurkle-durkle Australian male

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Dr Frank Hurley OAM is well-known and highly respected in the Ballarat community, nowhere more so than in BMI circles has written a memoir titled Look Back on Languor: The memoir of a hurkle-durkle Australian male. The book will be launched at the BMI, in the Humffray Room, at 5.00 - 6.30 p.m. on Friday […]

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Your data and how to protect it - George Fong  & Dr Omaru Maruatona Bar open from 5.00pm | Talk starts at 5.30pm George Fong Founder of Lateral Plains George Fong is the founder and Nerd Herder of Lateral Plains, one of the oldest IT companies in the region. He is Chair of the Committee […]

Free

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Making a difference to Ballarat’s homeless - Ballarat Future Shapers & Michael Poulton. Bar open from 5.00pm | Talk starts at 5.30pm Ballarat Future Shapers Western Region leadership project and how they dreamed big to help the homeless and deliver the Sleepbus to Ballarat. Michael Poulton Michael is the current CEO of the Committee for Ballarat, a role […]

Free

Twilight Talks 2023 | Season 1

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

8 February – The Red Planet & Ballarat’s Lady Astronomer | Graeme Hood & Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter Bar open from 5.00pm | Talk starts at 5.30pm Graeme Hood is an amateur Astronomer who first turned to the skies as a young boy in 1957 to observe the Sputnik spacecraft. He has maintained a lifelong interest […]

Free

In conversation with Fleur McDonald

BMI - Humffray Room 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

Having sold over 700,000 copies of her books, Fleur has solidified her position as one of the country’s favourite storytellers. Australia’s leading rural literature author, Fleur’s books become best sellers almost as quickly as they hit the shelves. Her story lines are drawn from inspiration from having lived and worked for much of her life on […]

$10

with Nicole Alexander

28 May at 6pm

Ballarat Heritage Festival BMI Day Tours

Two tours  on 20 &  21 May 

 

portrait of author with book cover

Australian Heritage Festival

Natasha Lester in conversation

1 May 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

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  Performance – 18 May.

Ballarat Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

16 to 25 May 

Connections to War from a Ballarat Perspective

Wed 2-30 April, 5.30pm

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

Fundraising Dinner
17 May. 

  Performance – 18 May.

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 | Now $20

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