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CATALOGUING THE PAST AT BALLAARAT MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE
Funding from the Albanese Labor Government is supporting volunteers at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute (BMI) in their important work cataloguing our city’s history through their work with the Heritage Registered Collection of books and artifacts.
The $2500 grant from the 2025-26 Volunteer Grants round will go towards new hardware and IT equipment to be used volunteers in the library’s historic reading room.
Locals have been borrowing books from the BMI library for almost 166 years.
The extensive library holds over 18,000 items, with carefully considered items still being added to the collection and catalogued by the team of dedicated volunteers.
The improved IT made possible through this funding will allow the volunteers to spend more time contributing their skills and less time dealing with inadequate technology.
While there were originally 1000 Mechanics’ Institutes across Victoria, Ballarat is now one of the only ten remaining in operation.
BMI is one of 43 volunteer organisations in the Ballarat electorate sharing in over $65,000 in funding this round. Other organisations receiving funding this round include:
The Volunteer Grants Program provides funding of between $1,000 and $5,000 to help support volunteers who strengthen local communities every day.
Grants can be used for practical expenses such as IT and communication equipment, volunteer training and screening checks, accessibility upgrades, insurance, and transport costs.
By backing the organisations that rely on volunteers, we are helping more people participate in their communities, and ensuring volunteers can continue making a difference where it is needed most.
More information on Volunteer Grants is available on the Department of Social Services website.
Quotes attributable to Member for Ballarat Catherine King:
“From a 1585 Geneva Bible to plant specimens from the 1870s, our amazing Mechanics Institute has a rare and precious collection that is worth preserving.
“This library is full of valuable items, but the dedication of the volunteers is by far the most valuable thing the BMI has. This $2500 grant will support them to continue their work preserving this important collection for the future.”
Quotes attributable to Chair of the BMI Board Paula Nicholson:
“This grant will provide funding to maintain our database and catalogue system, and ensure that our heritage collection is publicly accessible.
“We have amazing volunteers, but everyone is busy and we want to use their time as efficiently as possible. Better IT will also provide the opportunity to recruit more volunteers and support the sustainability of the BMI.”
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16 October 2026
