New Titles and Recommendations November 2025

Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Mystery 
Aust Mystery 
Aust Mystery 
Aust Mystery 
Aust Mystery 
Aust Mystery 
Aust Novel
Aust Novel
Aust Novel
Aust Novel
Aust Novel
Novel
Novel
Novel
Literature
Literature
Historical
Historical
Historical
Historical
Romance
Romance
Non-Fiction

Rosemary's Newsletter

Author of the Month

Rachael Johns

Rachael is the best selling author of the Patterson Girls, winner of the ABIA General Fiction and two-time recipient of the Romance Writers of Australia’s Ruby Award.

With more than 30 titles to her name, she’s one of Australia’s most beloved authors. She lives in Western Australia’s Swan Valley with her family.

Rachael will be in conversation at the BMI on Monday 6 November at 6.30pm, tickets selling fast. events.humanitix.com/host/bmiballarat

Book of the Month

The Outlaw's Daughter

Anna Romer

Notorious bushranger Henry Hawke has spent ten years in chains, but nothing could prepare him for the shackles of desire when he meets Solaine Granger. She’s everything he can never have-a lady, a mother, a woman who believes men like him deserve to hang.

Young widow Solaine has been taught that men like Henry are monsers. But when her daughter is kidnapped and the law fails her, she’s forced to strike a devil’s bargain with the one man who might help her – the dangerous outlaw who haunts her dreams.

But as they flee through rugged Australian bushland together, Solaine discovers that the most dangerous thing about Henry Hawke isn’t his past- it’s the way he makes her feel. He’s an outlaw with nothing to lose. She’s a lady with everything at stake.

Together. they’ll risk it all for love. In 1880 Australia, the rules are meant to be broken.

Recommeded Reads

All the Way to the River

Elizabeth Gilbert.

In 2000, Elizabeth Gilbert met Rayya. They became friends, then best friends, then inseparable. When tragedy entered their lives, the truth was finally laid bare: the two were in love. They were also a pair of addicts, on a collision course towards catastrophe.

What if your most beautiful love story turned into your biggest nightmare? What if the dear friend who taught you so much about your self-destructive tendencies became the unstable partner with whom you disastrously re-enacted every one of them? And what if your most devastating heartbreak opened a pathway to your greatest awakening?

The Lucky Sisters

Rachael Johns.

Adopted twins Nora and Stevie Lucky have lways been close. When their mother dies, Nora convinces Stevie to search for their biological parents, only to come face-to-face with a life-changing revelation that sends them spiralling in opposite directions.

With their careers, love lives and even their sisterly bond at risk, they’re going to need more than luck to survive.

An Ill Wind

Margaret Hickey.

High on a hill above the small Victorian town of Carrabeen, 300 wind turbines constantly spin.

Except one is now deadly still – a body hanging from its huge white blade. Det Sergeants Belinda Burney and Will Lovell are shocked to discover the dead man is Geordie Pritchard, a rich local philanthropist and owner of the wind energy farm.

Suicide at first seems the likely explanation, until Geordie’s widow Lucinda insists her husband was murdered – and she has the death threats to prove it.

Stay informed of our new releases

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Guides in period costume

Minerva's Secrets Night Tours

Night Tours

Fri 31 Oct – Sat 15 Nov

& Fri 12 Dec
 

Tour 1 at 7pm
Tour 2 at 9pm. 

Linen & Lace Exhbition

Includes Devonshire Tea | $20

Sat & Sun 22, 23 Oct
10am-4pm

Remembrance Day:

A Surgeon Commander & A Leading Cook - Recent War Memoribilia

Wed 29 Oct & 5 Nov, 5.30pm

Thu 16 Oct – 19 Oct 

 Coming soon

Rozzi Bazzani. Stella Day Out: Katia Ariel & Samah Sabawi, Rachael Johns

 Coming soon

Dianne Dempsey, Chrissie Bellbrae, Paula Gleeson, Rozzi Bazzani.

Raise a Glass for Brass

The Little Brass Band BMI Fundraiser

Sun 10 August at 2pm

Tracey Lee Holmes: A Life Through Sport

Thu 4 September at 6pm

with Michael Robotham

 Wed 20 August at 6pm

 Coming in November

Stella Day Out, Ballarat, Rachael Johns & Margaret Hickey

Ballarat Winter Festival

Events at BMI

5 July – 27 July 

Ballarat Pride Month

Events at BMI

The Month of June 

Ballart Seniors Festival 

Celebrate at the BMI.

 October 2025

with Gail Holmes

 Wed 4 June at 6pm

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 

Spring Season, History Talks:

Ballarat's Henry Lawson - The Dragon's Den - Gold! Gold! Gold!

Wed 3, 17 & 24 September, 5.30pm

Australian Heritage Festival Events at the BMI

18 April to 18 May

Dame Nellie Melba Birthday Celebration

  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