During the 11th National Shed Gathering in Queensland, attendees selected from three Brisbane excursions. One group visited the Australian Model Railway Association (AMRA) Queensland Men’s Shed in Zillmere, about 14 km north of Brisbane’s CBD.
The AMRA Queensland clubrooms provide a shared space where members and visitors can run model trains, work on projects, and connect with others who share an interest in railway modelling. The association, part of a national body supporting modellers since the early 1950s, welcomes both beginners and experienced hobbyists across all scales and gauges.
Regular activities include layout construction, operating sessions, maintenance work, and informal running days on club layouts. The club also has a Garden Group that builds and operates larger live-steam and live-fuel locomotives, running on coal and designed for outdoor tracks.
A highlight of the organisation’s calendar is the annual Brisbane Model Train Show, which attracts visitors from across Queensland and beyond, which is coming up on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July 2026. The event, which sees an average of 6500 people attend over two days each year, showcases detailed model layouts, trading stalls, and demonstrations, and is one of the largest model railway exhibitions in the region. The exhibition boasts 24 traders and heritage groups with 45 displays including layouts and demonstrations. Layouts are many and varied ranging from Z to G gauges, and many countries are represented in different scales and gauges. The annual event is a significant fundraiser for organisation, helping them to cover many of the running costs.
Beyond exhibitions, AMRA Queensland places strong emphasis on social connection and education. The organisation promotes railway modelling through shared standards, publications, and hands-on mentorship, helping preserve skills and grow the hobby across Brisbane and Australia.
Model Train show 2025
The national gathering tour of the model train shed
Queensland Beyer-Garratt live steam train
No 2 ex-South African NGG16 Garratt live steam locomotive
The Garden Group with their trains