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!
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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 28 August 2025 - Kyneton Library
2:00PM Tuesday 21 October 2025 - Bendigo Library
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Reading and Using Historical Maps and Plans
Presented by Dr Susan Walter, Bendigo Regional Archive Centre
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A vital tool in local and family history research is finding, using and interpreting historical maps and plans. Ever wanted to know what all the names and numbers mean and how they link to historical land records? Join Susan Walter, Coordinator of the Bendigo Regional Archives Centre, for a hands-on workshop on navigating these vital records.
BYO laptop and mouse.
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BOOKINGS REQUIRED​​
5:00PM Saturday 30 August 2025 - Sisko Chocolates Trentham​
The Decadence & Delights of Chocolate
As part of the the Trentham Words in Winter Festival
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A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands!
Is there anything more delicious than tasting artisan chocolate? Christina of Sisko does not think so. However, in Central Victoria, there was a darker side of chocolate as BRAC Archive Officer Desiree Pettit will tell through ‘Such Sweet Sorrow’.
Your taste buds will explode as Sisko pitches the sweet with the savoury and, to finish, a rich chocolate and chilli tart! A warming and a cooler wine included.
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NOTE: This event is part of the Trentham Words in Winter program and there is a charge for tickets. See the ticketing link for more information.
5:30PM Thursday 25 September 2025 - Bendigo Library​
Discovering History: Pints & Protests
Presented by La Trobe University, Bendigo Regional Archive Centre & Goldfields Libraries
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Hotel boycotts in regional Australia, 1900-1950.
Historian Iain McIntyre discusses the central role of the pub in regional Australian life in the first half of the twentieth century with a particular focus on 'beer strikes', boycotts of hotels over the price and quality of alcohol, accommodation and food, as well as the wages and conditions of bar staff. Live & on Zoom.
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BOOKINGS REQUIRED
2:00PM Tuesday 11 November 2025 - Kyneton Library​
Such Sweet Sorrow
Presented by Bendigo Regional Archive Centre
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Join Desiree Pettit (Bendigo Regional Archives Centre) to explore both the bitter and the sweet in the world of chocolate and confectionery across the centuries in north-west Victoria. Hear surprisingly tragic tales of lost loves, suspicious deaths, and intrigue, followed by a chocolate exploration and tastings from Sisko Chocolate Kyneton.
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BOOKINGS REQUIRED​​ - sensitive content, mature audiences only
5:30PM Thursday 27 November 2025 - Bendigo Library​
Discovering History: Remarrying, Religion & the Victorian Goldfields
Presented by La Trobe University, Bendigo Regional Archive Centre & Goldfields Libraries
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Freedoms, propriety and sexual desire
Presented by Jennifer Jones, LaTrobe University.
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La Trobe Historian Jennifer Jones explores the themes of love, sexual desire and religious faith on the Bendigo Goldfields. Her work draws on the fascinating surviving letters of the Brown family, who had migrated to Bendigo from Scotland in the mid-19th century.
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BOOKINGS REQUIRED