Twilight Talks 2026 | Season 1

Twilight Talks have been held at the BMI since 2001, providing a great opportunity to hear some fantastic speakers and meet up with friends over drinks.

Guests can arrive at the Humffray Room from 5pm for drinks and conversation, followed by a 30 to 40-minute talk at 5.30pm, concluding at approximately 6.30pm.

Wed 15 April | 5.30pm | Henry Lawson in Ballarat revisited

Presented by Hedley Thomson

Last November Hedley Thomson provided an entertaining and informative presentation about Henry Lawson’s 1887 visit to Ballarat to explore the Eureka Rebellion sites. This year he will return to this topic, detailing the impact of that visit and the events of Eureka generally on Lawson’s long literary career.

Wed 22 April | 5.30pm | Ballarat Avenue of Honour & a look behind names on the Avenue plaques

Presented by Amethyst May & Garry Snowden

Amethyst May is a student at Mount Clear College who has a passion for Australia’s war history. She will present a short documentary on Ballarat’s women during the Great War, which won a gold medal recently. She looks forward to an opportunity to answer your questions about this moving tribute to our service personnel.

Garry Snowden is President of Ballarat’s Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee and has extensively researched the men and women commemorated.

Wed 29 April | 5.30pm | Nostalgic memories of Stawell & Ballarat - 1950s & 1960s

Presented by Geoff Carr, Author of Dickie Larsen’s Pumpkin & Other Stories

Geoff Carr is a Ballarat-based author of short stories inspired by his childhood. He grew up in the Wimmera town of Stawell and cherished his caring and loving upbringing enveloped in the blue silhouettes of the famous Grampians and lesser- known Black Ranges. This was the setting before commencing his teaching career and settling in Ballarat for over fifty years.

Wed 6 May | 5.30pm | What We Watched Before Cinema: ‘Entertainments’ at the Mechanics’ Hall, 1863–1919

Presented by BMI Heritage Collection Curator, Ellen Becker

When the Mechanics’ Hall opened in 1863, the people of Ballarat flocked to see some strange and spectacular contemporary entertainments — mesmerists,

automata, waxworks, human curiosities, and the magic of the first moving image technologies. Join Curator Ellen Becker in traversing the entertainments held in the hey day of the hall, before it was converted into the Britannia Cinema in 1919.

The full speaking schedule for this series of Twilight Talks can be found at Twilight Talks 2026.

Note: Photographs may be taken at the event that may be used for promotion purposes: event marketing, website and project reporting. If you wish not to be included in such photos please identify at check-out.

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. The Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Contact the host of BMI Twilight Talks - Season 1 2026: Focus on Ballarat