BRAC EVENTS
BRAC aims to bring a variety of events that showcase the history of our coverage area and the breadth of our collection. Some events are in partnership with other organisations and many required you to book (even if they are free events) - always check the details for each event so you don't miss out!
Events are always posted to our Facebook Events page to make it easy for you to share details and attendance with friends.
BRAC events - as well as a collection of other history and heritage based events taking place in our catchment area - are included in our quarterly newsletter - subscribe HERE to stay up to date.
Upcoming Events
5:30PM Thursday 20 July 2023 - Kyneton Library
A History of Malmsbury Bluestone
Presented by Dr Susan Walter, BRAC Archives Coordinator at the Kyneton Library
Come on a pictorial tour of local and significant buildings and sites telling the Malmsbury bluestone story from 1856-1980s.
This event is FREE but bookings are required. This is an in-person event only.
5:30PM Thursday 3 August 2023
Discovering History: King Island Soldier Settlement
Presented by Stephen Conway, PhD candidate at the Bendigo Library
Discussing the use of King Island as a soldier settlement following the First and Second world wars.
2PM Wednesday 16 August 2023
Rates, Ratbags & Rebels: How to find your ancestors in the archives
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating, BRAC Archives Officer at the Bendigo Library
Not too sure what there is to find in the archives when it comes to your ancestors, or just an individual you're researching? A look at the collections at BRAC and what secrets they might hold about generations past in north-west Victoria.
This event is FREE but bookings are required. This is an in-person event only and due to the venue, masking is appreciated (supplied on request).



Past Events
Thursday 18 May 2023
A History of Malmsbury Bluestone
Presented by Dr Susan Walter, BRAC Archives Coordinator at the Castlemaine Library
Wednesday 26 April 2023
Rates, Ratbags & Rebels: How to find your ancestors in the archives
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating, BRAC Archives Officer at the Bendigo Library
Thursday 20 April 2023
Handle With Care: Making Bendigo's health history public
Presented by Justine Heazlewood, Bruce Smith, Dr Susan Walter & Desiree Pettit-Keating
Thursday 8 February 2023
Discovering History: Throwing Stones & Mending Their Ways
Presented by Dr Susan Walter BRAC Archives Coordinator
Wednesday 23 November 2022
Rates, Ratbags & Rebels: How to find your ancestors in the archives
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating, BRAC Archives Officer
Monday 3 October 2022
BRAC on the Road: Castlemaine
Presented by Dr Susan Walter, BRAC Archives Coordinator
Saturday 6 August 2022
Sandhurst House Hunting: An introduction to tracing property in the City of Bendigo
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating BRAC Archives Officer
Tuesday 24 May 2022
Breaking Down the Walls: Next steps for property research
Presented by Dr Susan Walter, BRAC Archives Coordinator
An Australian Heritage Festival event
Saturday 30 April 2022
Sandhurst House Hunting: An introduction to tracing property in the City of Bendigo
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating BRAC Archives Officer
An Australian Heritage Festival event.
Tuesday 5 April 2022
Such Sweet Sorrow: Bite Size Dingee
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating, BRAC Archives Officer
Thursday 24 March 2022
The Motion Was Put & Carried: How the City of Bendigo carried the can for nightsoil
Presented by Dr Susan Walter, BRAC Archives Coordinator
This event examines some of Bendigo’s lesser-known history of managing an unavoidable human problem using the resources of the Bendigo Regional Archives Centre (BRAC). Watch the presentation HERE or read the full research paper HERE.
Monday 14 February 2022
Such Sweet Sorrow: Bite Size Castlemaine
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating, BRAC Archives Officer & Cabosse & Feve
Tragic tales of lost loves, suspicious deaths and intrigue from BRAC's 2021 exhibition, Such Sweet Sorrow.
Thursday 6 July 2021
Discovering History: Such Sweet Sorrow
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating (BRAC), Dr Emma Robertson (La Trobe) & Sue Schreiber (Choclartiste)
Tragic tales of lost loves, suspicious deaths and intrigue from BRAC's 2021 exhibition, Such Sweet Sorrow.
Thursday 4 February 2021
Discovering History: History Never Repeats?
Presented by Desiree Pettit-Keating, BRAC Archives Officer
While it’s said that history never repeats, responses to an outbreak of smallpox in 1870’s Bendigo are surprisingly similar to those for the current COVID-19 pandemic - read the accompanying article HERE.
29 June 2019
BRAC 10th Anniversary Talks
The Bendigo Regional Archives Centre celebrated a decade in operation with two talks. Click through for an album of event photos
6 April 2019
ASA Regional Event
The Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) Victorian branch hosted a day at BRAC for members to learn about the collection, coverage, approach and future, with an opportunity to explore the archives. Click through for an album of event photos
28 March 2019
Caring For Collections
Australian Museums & Galleries Association (AMaGA) with conservator Erina McCann (Tiaki Objects) delivered a terrific training session on basic principles of caring for paper-based collections, including archives, books and documents. Click through for an album of event photos