Lifestyle & Entertainment
11 July, 2026
Model railway exhibition return to Stawell
ONE of the regions largest annual community events has returned to Stawell this weekend with the 26th Annual Model Railway Exhibition hoping to build on last year’s crowd of about 1800 people and again attract visitors from across Victoria and interstate.
The Grampian Model Railroaders’ exhibition is on today and tomorrow at the SES Hall in Sloane Street Stawell, featuring more than 20 layouts, traders, food, coffee and attractions for railway enthusiasts, families and curious visitors alike.
The exhibition has grown into one of regional Victoria’s largest model railway shows and provides a welcome boost for local businesses as visitors travel to Stawell for the weekend.
Club secretary Stuart Cray said preparations were well advanced, even if the final weeks before the event always carried a familiar sense of pressure.
“Like normal, it’s organised chaos,” he said.
“Every year it seems to come together well.”
Now in its 26th year, the exhibition has become a major fixture on Stawell’s events calendar.
Mr Cray said the key to the event’s longevity was simple.
“Look after everyone,” he said.
“Different layouts make it entertaining.”
This year’s exhibition will feature more than 20 layouts, which Mr Cray described as “fairly big for a regional show”.
He said the event continued to attract people from well beyond Stawell.
“There’s a lot of people come from everywhere,” he said.
“They come from Adelaide, Melbourne, all over the place.
“We had some from Brisbane and Darwin last year.”
Among this year’s highlights is a giant Lego railway display presented by exhibitors from South Australia and Victoria, alongside other Lego displays, layouts in a range of scales and the club’s new American On30 layout.
The Stawell exhibition has come around quickly for members during one of the club’s busiest years ever, with layouts travelling to exhibitions and festivals across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
Mr Cray said the travelling could be tiring, but it remained an important part of the hobby.
“You catch up with everyone, meet some new people,” he said.
The last major Stawell exhibition attracted about 1800 people, with the club hoping this weekend's event might finally push attendance beyond the 2000 mark.
The exhibition runs until 5pm today and from 10am to 4pm tomorrow (Sunday).
Entry is $15 for adults, while children under 16 are free.
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