Free Ballarat Research Hub display of conserved early Australian botanical volumes from Ballarat Libraries' Rare Book Collection.
Eureka Centre lists this free display at Ballarat Research Hub at Eureka from 30 March to 17 October 2026, Monday to Thursday from 10am to 4:30pm, with no booking required. The display focuses on Jacques Labillardiere's 1804-1806 botanical volumes, their Ballarat provenance and recent conservation work supported by Public Record Office Victoria.
Eureka Centre exhibition of prints interpreting the Eureka Stockade, Ballarat gold rush and later colonial memory.
Eureka Centre lists Myth and Memory from 6 June 2026 to 21 February 2027, 10am to 5pm at Eureka Centre Ballarat. Entry is included with the museum fee and tickets can be purchased on arrival; the page notes Christmas Day and Boxing Day closures. The exhibition features prints connected to Eureka and the Ballarat gold rush, including works from the History of Ballarat and Picturesque Atlas of Australasia contexts.
Free Eureka Centre early-years story, song and show-and-tell sessions for children aged 0-5.
Eureka Centre lists this free Early Years program at 10:30am every Thursday during school terms from 16 July to 17 September 2026. Sessions use Eureka-themed stories, songs, interactive play and a bring-from-home show-and-tell item for children aged 0-5.
Free drop-in cyanotype activity connected to World Press Photo at Ballarat Mining Exchange.
Art Gallery of Ballarat lists The Darkroom at Ballarat Mining Exchange from 8 August to 20 September 2026, 10am to 5pm. Visitors use transparent film negatives, UV exposure and a quick wash to make a cyanotype print inspired by World Press Photo images and stories. The page lists it as a free activity.
Ballarat Mining Exchange, Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central
Free World Press Photo exhibition presented by Art Gallery of Ballarat at the Ballarat Mining Exchange.
Visit Ballarat lists World Press Photo from 8 August to 20 September 2026 at Ballarat Mining Exchange, open 10am to 5pm. The page says Art Gallery of Ballarat is hosting the exhibition at its offsite Mining Exchange venue, with free entry, photojournalism and documentary work from the annual contest, and accessibility information supplied by the listing owner.
Ballarat Mining Exchange, 16 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central
Free reflective response program alongside World Press Photo at Ballarat Mining Exchange.
Art Gallery of Ballarat lists Scribe at Ballarat Mining Exchange from 9 August to 20 September 2026, 11am to 4pm. Performance artist Leisa Shelton leads artist scribes who invite visitors to pause after viewing World Press Photo and have their responses recorded and archived. The page lists the program as free.
Ballarat Mining Exchange, Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central
Free Backspace Gallery exhibition by Deaf artist Chelle Destefano about memory, sound and Auslan.
Art Gallery of Ballarat lists this free Backspace exhibition at 43 Mair Street from 5 September to 1 November 2026, 10am to 5pm. The exhibition presents Creswick artist Chelle Destefano's drawings and video-based performance work, using colour, memory and Auslan to represent sound through Deaf experience.
Backspace Gallery, 43 Mair Street, Ballarat Central
Eureka Centre public lecture on multiculturalism, democracy and the legacy of Raffaello Carboni.
Eureka Centre lists the Raffaello Carboni Lecture on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 6pm. Tickets are $15 full, $12 concession and $5 for Ballarat Italian Association members, with post-event canapes and drinks included. Professor Frank Bongiorno AM will discuss multiculturalism, democracy, the Victorian Gold Rush, Raffaello Carboni and the Eureka Rebellion.
Adults-only life drawing session at The George Hotel with a booking fee.
Visit Ballarat lists this life drawing session at The George Hotel on Tuesday 15 September, 6pm to 8:30pm. Tickets are $35 per person, bookings are through Tipsy Sketching, and the listing states attendees must be 18 years or over.
Sensory storytelling art session for babies and toddlers at the Art Gallery of Ballarat studio.
Art Gallery of Ballarat lists this ART PLAY session for ages 0-2 at Gallery Studio, Alfred Deakin Place on 16 September 2026 from 10am to 10:45am. Tickets are listed at $8 for Gallery members and $10 for children. The page describes a gentle sensory storytelling format using textures, colours, shapes and mark-making for babies and toddlers.
Gallery Studio, Alfred Deakin Place, Ballarat Central
Hands-on preschool art session at the Art Gallery of Ballarat studio.
Art Gallery of Ballarat lists this ART PLAY session for ages 3-5 at Gallery Studio, Alfred Deakin Place on 16 September 2026 from 11am to noon. Tickets are listed at $8 for Gallery members and $10 for children. The page describes a hands-on Story builders session where preschoolers experiment with tools and materials to make and change visual stories.
Gallery Studio, Alfred Deakin Place, Ballarat Central
BMI Twilight Talks session on the history of nursing at Ballarat Base Hospital and Grampians Health.
BMI lists this Twilight Talks session in the Humffray Room on 16 September 2026 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Emeritus Professor Margaret Bennett AM will discuss the changing role of nurses at Ballarat Base Hospital, midwifery, the hospital trained nurses league and first-hand nursing memories. Tickets are $13 general admission or $9 for BMI members, plus booking fees.
BMI - Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central
Hosted wine dinner and conversation at The Mallow Hotel in central Ballarat.
Visit Ballarat lists this supper-club event at The Mallow Hotel on 16 September 2026 from 6pm to 8pm. Tickets are listed at $110 per person and the page describes a two-course dinner, hosted SubRosa wine discussion and food-pairing format, with additional wine available for purchase. The listing says the venue actively welcomes people with access needs.
Free weekly trivia night with food, beer and prizes at Aunty Jacks.
Visit Ballarat lists Aunty Jacks old-school trivia on 16 September from 7pm to 10pm at 315-317 Mair Street, Ballarat Central. The page says it is free to play, hosted by Spud, with old-school prizes, food and beer available, and asks groups to book a table. Accessibility information is supplied by the listing owner.
Aunty Jacks, 315-317 Mair Street, Ballarat Central
Guided meditation class at BMI on simple meditations for a meaningful life.
BMI lists this Kadampa class on 16 September 2026 from 7pm to 8pm in the ground-floor Lending Library. The page describes a beginner-friendly in-person class with guided meditations, Buddhist teachings and teacher interaction for practical daily-life support. No booking is required, admission is free to $12 and Kadampa members attend free.
BMI - Lending Library, Ballaarat Mechanics Institute
Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod solo dance sessions at Her Majesty's Theatre Ballarat.
Her Majesty's Theatre lists the Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod solo dance program from 17 September to 1 October 2026. Sessions include morning and afternoon performances across styles including classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap and hip hop. Admission is free with no ticket needed, the event is all ages, and the page warns the performance may include smoke or haze, strobe and flashing images.
Thursday-night drag bingo sessions at Piano Bar Ballarat.
Visit Ballarat lists Drag Bingo at Piano Bar Ballarat from 6pm to 9:30pm on Thursdays from 10 September through 29 October 2026. The page describes six bingo games, drag performances, prizes, menu and cocktail service, photo breaks and essential bookings. Tickets are listed at $10 per person including a game book and dabber, and the listing says the venue actively welcomes people with access needs.
Piano Bar Ballarat, 31 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central
Weekly music-bingo fundraiser night at Hop Temple in Ballarat Central.
Visit Ballarat lists Hop Temple Musical Bingo from 7pm to 10pm on Thursdays from 10 September through 5 November 2026. The page describes a $2 music-bingo format using new and old-school songs instead of numbers, with vouchers, games and a different fundraising cause each week. Disabled access details should be checked with the operator.
Hop Temple, 24-28 Armstrong Street North, Ballarat Central
Free Friday race-day event at Ballarat Turf Club in Miners Rest.
Visit Ballarat lists Sportsbet Gold Nugget Day at Ballarat Turf Club on Friday 18 September from 12:30pm to 6pm. General admission is complimentary and upstairs dining in the Blue Pyrenees Estate Dining Room is listed at $80. The page says the afternoon includes the Sportsbet Gold Nugget race, food and drinks, and a Yum Cha by Roy Hammond dining option presented with Commerce Ballarat.
Friday-night live music series at Freight Bar and Rooftop in central Ballarat.
Visit Ballarat lists Fr8 Fridays at Freight Bar and Rooftop from 7pm to 10pm on Fridays from 4 September through 6 November 2026. The page describes a rotating lineup of local and touring musicians, familiar classics and sing-along material, with Freight Bar food, drinks and Friday specials available. The listing says the venue actively welcomes people with access needs.
Freight Bar and Rooftop, 49 Mair Street East, Ballarat Central
