July 24 @ 10:00 am - August 2 @ 3:00 pm Free Open during regular Library operating hours - See footer below - Closed Friday 23 July & Saturday 24 July for Special Event. Our Heritage Collection Volunteers are showcasing a small display of rare books from our Collection. Step back in time at Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute's Rare Book Week, running 24 July to 2 August. Explore…
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,…
July 24 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space The Tony Award Winning Play by Yasmina Reza Directed by Ruby Abbott After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition. God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards and the 2009…
July 25 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space The Tony Award Winning Play by Yasmina Reza Directed by Ruby Abbott After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition. God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards and the 2009…
July 25 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm $10 – $30 Minerva Space The Tony Award Winning Play by Yasmina Reza Directed by Ruby Abbott After the event of school yard bullying, four parents differing views may have just created cause for another round; adults edition. God of Carnage is a one act black comedy play. It won best comedy at the 2009 Tony Awards and the 2009…
July 28 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm $11.00 Tuesdays at 2pm | A colourful history of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute and it’s people. By appointment only, (to organise a volunteer guide we require 24hrs notice). Group Tours: Group tours can also be accommodated on other days. We also offer specialty tours, information on these can be found on our Building Tours webpage.
July 29 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.00 Humffray Room Get Tickets Lest Angels Weep Phillipa Nefri Clark Phillipa will be in conversation with local actor Kate Atkinson The new case is cold. Stone cold. Until another murder with striking similarities rocks a remote outback town. Detective Liz Moorland is desperate to get out of Melbourne. Away from the aftermath of shocking events…
August 1 @ 7:00 pm - 11:50 pm $150 Get Tickets The Anything for a Mate (AFAM) Charity Ball is on again. The AFAM Ball was an idea from a group of friends who wanted to do something to help a mate. What it evolved into was the biggest non-corporate donation made to The NBCF in 2026. In memory of our dearly loved daughter,…
August 3 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm $11.00 Humffray Room Get Tickets Cold River Margaret Hickey Margaret will be in conversation with author Gregory Flood Deep in the mountains, secrets grow deadly... Detective Constable Sally White knows how easily hikers can go missing in Victoria’s high country. But there’s something about the disappearance of Louis Taylor, a young man lost up Mount Viking,…
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…
August 7 @ 7:30 pm - 8:40 pm $44.90 Minerva Space Presented by KEG Touring Get Tickets A Bit Scared Blake Pavey rose to online fame at just 17 years old through his character based sketch comedy on TikTok. Since then, he has amassed over 1 Million followers across social media. He's now converted his online presence onto the stage with some absolutely killer…
August 9 @ 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm $42 – $47 Minerva Space Doors open 12.30pm | 1.30pm show-time Get Tickets Lawrence Mooney Lawrence Mooney is one of Australia’s most popular and best known Comedians and recently he has appeared as the man behind all of those wonderful characters on The Front Bar. This veteran of stage, radio and television is at the Ballarat Mechanics Institute for…
Minerva's Secrets Night Tours
Tue 19 May with special visit to Lantern Vaults
Tour 1 at 7pm – Tour 2 at 9pm.
Remembrance Day:
A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia
Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm.
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.
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
Pre-Sale $60 from 6 Aug to 9 Aug - $65 thereafter
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
