Terry Lloyd, David Berry and Andrew Oliver were officially announced new members at the institute’s 156^th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night. 

Outgoing president Ann Cato also marked the occasion by handing over her reins to new president Graham Gooding.

Speaking on the night, Ms Cato said it had been a challenging year, but one that allowed the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to move forward.

"It's been a challenge of changes and trying to keep up with everything,” she said.

"We wanted to make sure we're looking forward.

"It started with the website which took 12 months and snowballed from there.”

Talking about the website, Ms Cato said the new site now reflects the new era for the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute by focussing on its place within the city's arts and historical community.

For the first time the website also enables users to use it on tablets and smartphones.

"We had an antiquated website and never had a great deal of money. Different people had different inputs into the website and it got to a stage it was inadequate,” she said.

“So we bit the bullet and invested in a website and we're absolutely pleased about it.”

She said the support of a $50,000 grant also allowed a finishing kitchen to be installed which she said had the potential to increase the usage of the building's Minerva Space.

"The new finishing kitchen is up and running and now caterers will be able to cater for up to 200 people for birthdays, weddings and conferences,” she said.

While there is still a lot of work needed, she said fundraising efforts throughout the year have helped raise much needed funds for the building as well as raising the profile of the facilities available to the community.

Ms Cato said the ability to establish the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute as a usable space within the community as well as finding funding for a $300,000 upgrade of the building's facade will be the biggest priority for the new board.

"There have been some good things put in place. I'm confident the new board will continue this,” she said.

"I think there will be a lot of hard work, not just this year but for years to come.

"Now that we’re in a good place with the building being renovated we need to be out promoting our spaces.

"We need the community to embrace the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, we belong to the people of Ballarat. We need more people coming in.”

A number of board members who chose not to stand for re-election including John Blythman, Jan Ross, Michael Morrow, Michael Unwin and Fiona Watson were farewelled at Wednesday night's event.