History of All Gauge MRC

The following Club History was prepared for the 50th anniversary of the All Gauge MRC, celebrated in December 2023.

Part 1: 1973 – 1999, by Peter Lamb

The author of Part 1 of this history is Peter Lamb. Peter is a long-term AGMRC member, first joining in 1978. Much of this history is from his first-hand memories and experiences from before, during and returning to the club.

A Christmas clockwork trainset at age five and being the son of a career railwayman fuels his love of railways in any size or form.

Like many a train modeller, this love had to be put on hold owing to work and family commitments at various times, but a display in a toy shop window in the mid 1960s led to the purchase of a Marklin locomotive and began the collection of many model rail items up until the present.

Peter first joined the AGMRC at the old Cannon Hill clubhouse. A two year term as both secretary and editor of the then club newsletter ended in 1982. Other commitments and interests delayed rejoining until 2006.

Currently the club historian and editor of the renewed club newsletter, he is making good progress on a Marklin-based European layout.

The beginnings of the All Gauge Model Railway Club (AGMRC) include a large part of the history of model railroading in the Brisbane area.

Some of the founding and future members of AGMRC were model railway enthusiasts, members of other hobby groups and model railway clubs, long before the nucleus of All Gauge was formed in 1973.

Model railways have been around since the late 1800s, mostly in the large scales and gauges. There is evidence that model railway groups and clubs, although not widespread, existed before the 1920s.

The earliest known Brisbane club, The Queensland Society of Model Engineers existed in the early 1930s and still exists today. It was mainly live steam in the larger scales. Their displays often provided for “Ride on” passengers at shows and fetes.

In the 1930s a distinction was made by enthusiasts between toy and model railways. This led to the forming of clubs and National Associations. The American NRMA, founded in 1935 is one early example. However model railways and other recreational activities did not become really popular in the Brisbane area until the 1940s, after World War II.

Model and toy trains modelled in O and S scales were popular up until the mid 1940s but needed fairly large areas to operate. OO at 1/76 was much smaller than O at 1/42 and S at 1/64. In fact OO was marketed as a table top railway!! Being smaller, more economical and using generally lower, safer voltages had more appeal and made railway clubs more viable.

HO scale (1/87) had been around before OO but did not gain a foothold in Australia ‘till the mid 1950s.

By 1950 at least two other model railway clubs had been formed in the Brisbane area, one of which was The Brisbane Model Railway Club. This club exhibited model layouts at the old Industries Fair and Brisbane Exhibitions until the late 1950s, their layouts forming part of Queensland Rail’s stand.

In 1954 the Brisbane Model Railway Club had become the Queensland branch of the A.M.R.A. (Two years ahead of the N.S.W. branch).

This increasing popularity of railway modelling influenced the forming of other clubs in the late 1950s, culminating in the holding of the 1st Brisbane Model Railway Exhibition in 1961. The event proved popular enough to make it an annual event. The 2nd Model Railway Exhibition (12^th-19^th November1962) was even more successful, with more than a dozen layouts displayed by as many clubs and groups.

Of future interest to our All Gauge Club was the Moreton Model Train Club, exhibiting for the first time. This club was only formed earlier in that year (1962), but still managed to display 3 layouts. Moreton had no club premises, but used to meet at the President’s (Mr Bob Gough) home at Morningside. Also residing at Morningside was another Moreton Club member (Mr Athol Smith) who had constructed a large “O” Gauge layout under his house. The Moreton Club members were invited to make use of these facilities.

Later that year (1963), a young Joe Parnis (a future president of AGMRC) joined the Moreton Model Train Club as a junior. Joe would cycle to club meetings and activities until he left the club in 1966.

The Moreton Club continued to support the Brisbane Model Railway Exhibitions at the City Hall and, later in the 1960s, the BMRE became part of the Annual Brisbane Hobbies Exhibition. This event continued to be held annually until the mid 1970s.

Meanwhile the Moreton Club had gained more new members. Two of these members, Noel Lavel and Frank Isaac joined in 1971 and would become Founding Members of the AGMRC.

The group of new Moreton Club members became active in building a new HO/OO layout in the outdoor garage of Athol Smith’s house. Athol still had his own “O” gauge layout under his house.

Unfortunately the Moreton Club had some problems with increased membership, etc and at some stage the HO/OO group broke away to form the West Moreton Club and plan their own activities.

The new group was still not without some problems, not the least of which was being located on private property, together with the failing health of Athol Smith himself. As a result a group of 7 or 8 members decided to form their own informal group late in 1973, while many of the group stayed with the West Moreton Club and continued to enjoy weekly activities.

The breakaway group remained informal. Noel Lavel acted as spokesman, ably supported by Frank Isaac and Manny McMahon. The aim of the group was to form a new club with its own club premises. The incentive to form a new club with suitable premises helped keep the group together for the next couple of years.

The founding of AGMRC

In late 1976 an old shop at Whitworth Street, Cannon Hill became available on a 10 year lease at a reasonable monthly rent. Just prior to this Athol Smith had passed away and had willed the West Moreton HO/OO layout to the new club.

The first meeting in the new clubhouse was held in December 1976. Noel Lavel was elected President out of the 7 founding members. Frank Isaac was treasurer and Maureen Lavel (Noel’s wife) became secretary.

The name All Gauge Model Railway Club was adopted and a club constitution was drawn up and approved. Club fees of $30.00 per annum were agreed upon.

January 1977 was a busy month for the fledgling club. The clubhouse was cleaned and made presentable. The late Athol Smith’s HO/OO layout was installed and the first running night was held late in January.

The initial idea was the clubhouse would be open 6 nights a week for anybody (including non-members) to run trains for a small fee. This idea soon became unworkable due to the shortage of members.

The years 1976-1981 were busy ones for the club and its fund raising activities. These included Buy & Sell nights, raffles and occasional exhibiting at school fetes etc. for a small fee. Buys and Sells in Queensland were the creation of the AGMRC. Noel Lavel laid down the basic principals and paperwork for Buy and Sells and, although some of the principals are now considered out of date, members of various clubs still support our current sales.

In addition to these activities, All Gauge became heavily involved with the running of the new Model Railway Exhibitions held at the old Police Boys Club in 1976 and 1977.

In 1978 the Qld A.M.R.A. started running the 3 day Brisbane Model Train Show, held each year at the Brisbane Showgrounds on the May Labour Day weekend. All Gauge was invited to take part and has seldom missed exhibiting at this annual event.

By 1981 All Gauge had around 25 members including 7 juniors. Elections were held annually but Noel Lavel and Frank Isaac were consistently re-elected. Club secretaries and treasurers changed a few times since the Club’s inception in 1976.

The Hon. Clem Jones OA and the AGMRC

Early in 1981 an extraordinary meeting was convened at the Cannon Hill clubhouse with the Hon. Clem Jones OA (former Lord Mayor of Brisbane) and the Hon. Bill Hewitt (Member for Greenslopes) as guests of the All Gauge committee.

This meeting, complete with a Courier Mail photographer (an original newspaper photo records the meeting) was to encourage the All Gauge club to exhibit at the fledging Crackajack Carnival to be held at the Carina Sports Complex. The AGMRC committee readily agreed. Crackajack was a big success; the Clubs 3 layouts (HO/OO, N Scale and HO 3) being very popular.

AGMRC’s New Premises

Early in 1982 the Hon. Clem Jones again met with the All Gauge Model Railway Club to not only have them exhibit at that year’s Crackajack but to also get the club to agree to exhibit at all future Crackajack Carnivals. The club immediately agreed but pointed out that they could not guarantee to support future Carnivals after 1986 as the Cannon Hill clubhouse lease was due to expire late in that year.

Clem Jones told the meeting not to worry, that there was a good chance to obtain premises for a future clubhouse within the Carina Sports Complex. The club readily agreed to the terms of a future move on the condition that the club become part of the complex and to always exhibit at Crackajack from 1982.

1982 was also the year Brisbane hosted the Commonwealth Games. But in spite of the extra activity throughout Brisbane, this had little effect on club activities and it continued to grow.

In 1983 a minor setback for All Gauge was when 5 senior and 2 junior members left en-mass to form the Model Eurobahn, a Marklin 3 Rail Club. Although short handed for awhile, All Gauge was still able to carry on. Layouts were exhibited at fetes and shows whenever possible (and never missing a Crackajack Carnival) throughout the years 1981-1988 whilst still based at Cannon Hill.

To ensure a stronger negotiating position on behalf of the AGMRC, Clem Jones agreed to become the first Club Patron when nominated at the March 1985 AGM. He continued to serve as patron until his death in 2007.

That election of Clem Jones OA as the club’s first Patron was a timely move! Besides being a former Lord Mayor and having a distinguished career as a businessman and politician, he was a supporter and participant of many charities, sporting bodies and Associations. Most significant for the All Gauge Club was that he was founding Chairman of Trustees of the Camp Hill and Carina Welfare Association. Thus the club’s future within the complex was assured.

A special building fund had been set up late in 1983. Raffles, BBQs etc. were conducted to contribute to the new fund. Monies were raised throughout 1984-85. However these ventures did not raise enough money, so during 1985 club membership fees were raised to $100 per annum to offset expenses.

The New Clubhouse

The Club’s future was assured in 1986 when Clem Jones arranged for the purchase of land within the Carina Sports Complex for a nominal amount. 1986 was also when John Cantrell (a future life member) joined as did Alan Mathews. They proved to be excellent and much needed additions to the existing team; laying cement, painting walls, raising roofs, laying floors and hanging windows in what became a two storey clubhouse over the next few years.

The Whitworth Street clubhouse lease expired in 1986 however the committee was able to arrange a 2 year extension. Even so, and despite its decrepit state, the old clubhouse was not demolished by its owners until 2012!

By July 1987 Club Patron, Clem Jones had arranged for All Gauge to negotiate the purchase of a school demountable building from the Wynnum area for the AGMRC site in the Carina Sports Complex. Club members Vince Ford (canteen manager) and Dave Cossart (former secretary) were elected to arrange for the purchase and moving of the school building. It cost very little ($75) but the moving costs and placing it atop the ground floor were $5,160!

The removal was approved by the Brisbane City Council in September, but could not take place until the December school holidays of 1987.

The building permit had been approved to include the building of the ground floor, a walled in area. Builder (and club member) Alan Mathews had obtained the dimensions to enable the foundations and walls of the ground floor to be in place before the delivery of the school building. The permit was approved with Clem Jones’ support.

1988 World Expo was staged in Brisbane. This really put the city in the world limelight. Members were not involved officially so work pushed on with clubhouse construction. Meantime the setting out and pouring of the future clubhouse foundations went ahead. Most of the work was done by members. Builder Alan Mathews supervised. Clem Jones, a surveyor by profession, also assisted when available.

The foundations for the ground floor proved to be a much bigger job than expected. Life member John Cantrell tells of one very hard, long day when finishing the job extended into the early hours of the next morning. This despite the use of a “helicopter” .. a mechanical trowel .. and willing workers! The biggest drawback was no floodlights were available. The floor was finished with the use of club members’ cars’ headlights!

The school classroom was transported and placed on top of the ground floor walls in January 1988. At this stage the building was little more than four walls and a roof. Much more work still had to be done.

The finishing of the clubhouse to a stable and secure building included the enclosing of a veranda which was part of the original demountable school building and is now part of the top floor of the clubhouse. Some exterior and interior walls had to be sheeted and painted and stairs to the upper floor built.

Most of the work would have had to be postponed owing to a shortage of funds. A timely grant arranged by patron Clem Jones from the Camp Hill and Carina Welfare Association saved the day.

AGMRC 1991 – 2000

Early 1991 was a milestone for the club in more ways than one. Ten years (albeit very busy years) had elapsed since Clem Jones and the AGMRC began negotiations to exhibit at all annual Crackajack Carnivals. Those first negotiations had paved the way for AGMRC to become part of the Carina Sports Complex. And this was the year (in September) that All Gauge, on legal advice, was incorporated as an Association.

Secondly, All Gauge awarded the Clubs’ first Life Membership to the builder Alan Mathews, in recognition of his outstanding work for the club. Alan had supervised all the site preparation and erection of the clubhouse etc.

Thirdly, Noel ended a 15 year term as Club President. Since 1976 Noel had been the main driving force in founding AGMRC. He had also proved a good leader and negotiator when bargaining for the club’s future in becoming part of the Carina Complex. John Love was elected the new president. A skilled building worker, John proved to be a good choice in finishing the clubhouse, taking over just before the untimely death of Alan Mathews.

Almost un-noticed at the time (1991) two new members, Graham Sheehan and John James joined the AGMRC. Not only were they to become future Life Members but where willing workers in every working bee including sheeting the walls and ceiling, assisted by other members and supervised by John Love. John James, an accountant by profession, was elected club treasurer for a period of years. The secretary at the time was Dick Smith who, like Frank Isaac was very good at scenery. Unfortunately Dick died in South Africa whilst on holiday a short time later.

Plans for two layouts were approved and work started in 1991 and both layouts were up and running by 1993. Further scenery and finishing touches were carried out over the next couple of years. Of particular interest was the use of a helex to gain height between the two levels on the “N” Scale layout.

In 1992 All Gauge had approved Appreciation Awards. Each and every year the recipients’ names were to be engraved on the Club plaque. Sadly 1993 was the year Alan Mathews, our first Life Member passed away. The club was well represented at Alan’s funeral. Two Life Membership awards were granted in 1994 to Frank Isaac and Noel Lavel for outstanding service to the club.

1994 to 1998 were busy years and the club was well established with more new members joining and sharing the workload. One of these was Robert (Bob) McCabe who, joining in early 1998 and working under the tutorship of Frank Isaac, proved to be an honest and willing worker with a strong sense of punctuality. Bob, like those other staunch supporters of the time, was to later be granted Life Membership.

In fact the future looked good for the club. The clubhouse was at last in good shape. There were two permanent layouts (HO/OO and N scale). There were also two exhibition layouts. A couple of members had dabbled in “G” gauge and “No. 1” Gauge in the hope of some support. Sadly these scales/gauges did not take on.

A severe setback occurred in 1998 when a fire in the upper level destroyed the HO/OO layout and severely damaged the other layouts. Unlucky as this was, it was even luckier that the fire didn’t spread further. Although the cause of the fire was uncertain the Fire Insurance did adequately cover the loss.

The club was still able to function and exhibit when possible. Despite the setback the permanent layouts repairs went ahead and all had reached a good usable standard by the Millennium year 2000. To achieve this deadline the club had subcontracted the building of the main part of the layout woodwork. However, even during the rebuilding club members were almost always able to come to the clubhouse and run their trains on the layouts.

In 1999 John Love was replaced by Joe Parnis (the young cyclist who had first joined in 1962) as Club President. John Love had been President for 8 years. It was at that year’s AGM that the rule of 3 year terms for club officials was implemented.

Looking back over these years, so much had been achieved. Good leadership and much hard work had created the AGMRC and put it in a sound, strong position; ready and able to continue into the 21st century.

Part 2: 2000 – 2023, by Dennis Remmer

For the next seventeen years, the All Gauge Model Railway Club continued to develop and enhance its remarkable large scale layouts upstairs at its Carina clubhouse, as well as several portable / show layouts (such as the ‘Bodmin Road’ DCC-enabled layout), T-Trak, and other projects downstairs. Many members contributed significant time and materials to beautify the layouts, improve and expand tracks, signaling, and controls. To see the upstairs layouts in full operation was a sight to behold, and often held the public (and in particular young minds) enthralled at the Club’s various events.

The Club continued to host Open Days, Train Shows, Buy and Sell (Table Sales), technical workshops, and other events at Carina, as well as presenting at other shows and events, including A.M.R.A, and the annual Crackerjack Carnival (which was sadly canceled forever in 2014). The Club invested in accessibility facilities including a stairlift, enabling wheelchair access to all areas of the clubhouse, and upgraded its fire exits. The Club’s website was overhauled in 2013, we joined Facebook, and later established a ‘Friends of All Gauge’ email list; all through which the Club greatly expanded its community reach.

Family memberships grew, and the Club enjoyed a period of growth and stable operation, regularly operating a minimum of two days per week plus Friday nights, and often extra sessions on demand. Fundraising through memberships, BBQs, table sales, grants, donations, and good governance saw the Club become financially stable, establishing a solid emergency reserve for ‘a rainy day’. Club Presidents during this ‘golden age’ included (NB: 3-year terms were now part of the Club’s Constitution): J. Parnis, M. Nicolson, G. Brown, J. Rosenberg, R. Smith, C. Purcell, J. Pollard, J. Wilde, J. Forrest, P. Ball, and R. Parker.

In 2017 various members reflected on what All Gauge had meant to them during this time:

• I joined AGRMC approximately five years ago. I go on a Saturday and mainly run trains on the OO/HO layout upstairs, where I enjoy running my trains and having conversations, about all different subjects, with the other Club members. From the very first day I was made very welcome. Through the more experienced members I have learnt a great deal about the hobby. I have made many friends at the Club and appreciate the skills other people have. I look forward to coming to the Club on a Saturday.
• The large layout upstairs where I can just let my stuff run on and on, while talking with other members doing the same thing. Soaking up the friendly ambience in the clubhouse when things are being done or happening (e.g., layouts worked on and repaired, morning tea, potential new members being shown around, etc.). Observing the expressions on the faces of the huge difference in the kind of people who attend our Open Days: the vibes that parents give off when in the clubhouse with their children; the keen hobbyists; the just curious; lately retired persons looking for a hobby; wives with retired or unwell husbands they are trying to get out of the house on a regular basis for the better of both of them; the enthusiasm of members when new projects are being discussed, etc. Conversation with like-minded members: books, movies, TV programs, traffic situations driving to the Club, what they had for dinner – but not necessarily as far as politics, beliefs (religion), attitude towards women are concerned. Providing a place for loners (who are happy running trains on their own) and the lonely (who DO need people to talk/run trains with). The atmosphere in the clubhouse when lots of trains are running on the big OO layout upstairs.
• It means many things to me. I live alone, am over 80, have a good relationship with my children, but they have their own lives. I am active with Biosecurity Qld. as a volunteer which gets me out of the house and involved with other people but none of these are friends in the same way as the members of AGMRC are. I have been interested in model railways all my life but have not been able to get involved as a result of my work until retirement. I have looked at other organisations including other model railway clubs, this is how I got involved with Biosecurity, but none provide the satisfaction & friendship of AGMRC. I go to AGMRC at least three times a week: Friday night, Saturday & Wednesday, and at other times, so you can see it is a good part of my life. I can go in whenever I like, I can run trains on my own, or I can go in when others are there, both official & unofficial, run trains, watch others’ trains, talk not just about railways – no subject is off the table. The Club is very open, some would say too open! I consider all present members to be my friends, but I have made quite a few special friends and people I can turn to for help when I need it, who I would not have met without the Club.
• To me All Gauge Model Railway Club has been a valued part of my life since 1988. I joined when the upstairs portion was still a classroom. I saw the results of the fire. I have spent countless hours working there. I have seen the Club prosper, fall, and rise up again over this period of time. In the early years finance was the main problem, but to see members go to shopping centers with layouts to raise money showed me what Club spirit was all about. We just used to meet the rent and not make a profit. I have been fortunate enough to have learnt skills in train running and maintenance from experienced members over the years. I could have joined train clubs less than a third of the distance I travel to All Gauge, BUT IT IS MY CLUB.
• I have been a member of this Club from late 2005 and my time has been a different journey that has been fulfilling and rewarding. When I joined the Club there were different members than there are today, and the Club has evolved in time to give every person and modeler a chance to make strong contributions to the Club and wider community. As a member, I participated in the Club activities, including Open Days and the now defunct Crackerjack Carnival, which the Club participated in for all of our existence at the Clem Jones Centre. This showed that we were a big part of the Clem Jones Centre, and I personally know that Clem Jones enjoyed having us participate at his annual fundraising event. I attended as many shows and events as I could, and my son also enjoys the hobby and has shown his model trains and layout for the Club (and was also awarded junior member of the year). In 2007, as the Club was in transition to a committee that could take a new direction, I nominated to be President, and was duly elected to this position from March 2007 to March 2010. During this time and with the help of an outstanding Committee, we moved to make the Club more accountable and strengthened the Club’s financial position. I spent many hours, with the help of my Committee, to find ways to increase membership and finances and this was something that I am truly proud of. Model railways have a place in any environment and bring people together as one to give them something that they love to do and enjoy. This is a place that they can relax and enjoy themselves and talk about things that they may not in other environments. We are very much like the Men’s Shed in many ways in that we meet to do things similar, and give many different people from all walks of life an opportunity to feel that they are a part of a group of individuals that can find friendship and company that they may not in other areas of their lives. I have been modeling trains for almost 50 years, starting as a boy with a Triang set that was given to me by my father in 1969, and he said to me then that model trains as a hobby had been around for many years and if I can take it with in my life’s journey it will hold many opportunities for me, and I am most grateful to him for showing me a hobby that I have loved all my life.
• I have been a part of the All Gauge Model Railway Club for what will be 12 years in November. I joined with my dad and from then on I have used the facilities that are available to full extent. We both go every Tuesday night to run our model trains with a group of fellow model train aficionados. As I am currently a grade 12 student, running model trains with like-minded enthusiasts is a great way for me to stop, forget about all the assignments I have due, and the pressures of school life. What I find the most satisfying part about being in the model railway community is seeing the faces of young children when displaying my exhibition layout. Making someone’s day by simply putting a smile on their face is a feeling that can’t be beat. This started for me in 2008 at my first All Gauge Model Railway Club train show. That little 8 year old boy displaying his “Samuels’ Railway with Thomas and Friends” layout would eventually become one of All Gauge’s senior members.Those memories will always be with me. Not only have I been participating in the All Gauge Model Railway Club’s train shows since 2008, but I have also helped the Club I hold dear in other ways; from helping out at the A.M.R.A show, setting up the Club layouts and exhibiting my models on these layouts, to helping to install the Club’s water tank! The All Gauge Model Rail Club has been a part of most of my life.
• I joined with my Dad because the Club provided an established platform for me to facilitate my hobby, foster my creativity, and allow me to hone my skills. All Gauge is great because it provides an avenue for people to channel their creativity and share their knowledge.
• With failing faculties, age, and its associated ailments, I am left with comparatively few active interests. Rugby boots, cricket bats, tennis racquets, fishing rods, golf clubs and even cameras now consigned to gather dust, railway modeling helps to keep me alive. I have a substantial layout here which in the nature of things will likely never be finished but the hobby is intrinsically a lone pursuit which can lead to depression very easily. The All Gauge Club represents a social outlet where I can use my education, training, and experience to contribute despite being near blind now, and I rather this than merely being passively entertained. I live alone, fiercely independent, and try to keep my mind active. This is in my opinion extremely important, not just for me but for everyone.
• The All Gauge Model Railway Club has kept me active since I retired and allowed me to indulge in my passion for model railways, and this has pushed me to learn new skills and introduced me to new friends with whom I chat and discuss everything under the sun. I look forward to my twice weekly visits.
• I would like to say that the Club gives me the opportunity to run my trains on a substantially bigger track (layout) than I currently have at home. I have made friends with people who share my passion for trains, not just in N gauge (I model in this size) but also the other gauges supported by the Club. As a new member, it has been a welcome change to have the camaraderie of like-minded people, rather than be the ‘lone wolf’.

The Loss of Carina

On the 25th of February 2017, All Gauge MRC held a special general meeting for its members, based on a request from the Clem Jones Community Centre to share news from the Centre which would impact the Club. All Gauge MRC were advised that the Clem Jones Community Centre had embarked on a plan to establish a new gymnasium, the development application for which depended on the removal of the Club’s building to provide parking (for 14 spaces) and for other reasons prior to commencement of work. Building of the gymnasium was planned to commence in May 2017 and complete in early 2018. The Club were advised that an on-site replacement building for the AGMRC could not be funded.

Once the Centre representatives had left the meeting it was agreed by members that the Club would have to move, and that it would have to do so as swiftly as possible. The Club briefly considered ‘The Castle’-style action, but this would have been cost-prohibitive with no guarantee of positive outcome due to the informal nature of the Club’s arrangement with Clem Jones. The Club was very disappointed with this, as it all seemed contrary to the original intent of Clem Jones himself.

The following message was sent to members and friends on the 29th of November 2017, and it speaks volumes about this dark time for the Club:  From the end of December All Gauge will no longer be situated at the Clem Jones Centre at 56 Zahel Street, Carina. Developments at the Centre require us to vacate a building which we have used now for almost 30 years. The Club has been able to demount some of the layouts built with great care over the years and store them. However, much of the permanent layouts will be lost. Although without a Clubroom, the demountable layouts will be stored at member’s homes and will still be available for mounting at model railway shows. The Club is not closing down, but will continue to operate via email, snail mail and phone contacts with members. The next official meeting of members will be the 2018 AGM on Saturday 3 February, venue to be notified. During 2017 we have been actively searching for a new clubhouse with no success at this stage. We would ask anyone who may have knowledge of a possible site to contact the Club Secretary. Our requirements are for a space of roughly 100sq.m, preferably in the Brisbane City Council area, and preferably south of the river. Please keep in mind that our space will be occupied with permanent layouts. We will keep you informed – and thank you for your continued interest in our Club.

Finally, on 20th December 2017, the All Gauge Model Railway Club held its last running day at its Carina Clubhouse, after which electricians disconnected the power, and the Club moved its portable layouts into several members’ homes, and hurriedly packed an onsite container which the Club had bought, with all its tools, furniture, boxes of parts, and other chattels. The clubhouse was ‘handed back’ to the Clem Jones Centre for demolition, which occurred in early 2018, and the gymnasium was completed by May 2018 and named the Terry Mackenroth Community Gymnasium. Christmas 2017 was a very sad time indeed for the AGMRC.

Several options were subsequently explored over the next few years. One was pursued with the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, to the point at which in October 2017 designs were tabled for an industrial shed to be constructed between the main showground and car park, however the Club decided against the high project cost. Also considered was space in the Minnippi Parklands, and the Rocklea showgrounds, to no avail.

In an effort to retain its remaining members and keep the Club alive, membership fees were halved to $60/annum until a new clubhouse could be established. Official member meetings (including the 2018 AGM) were initially held during early 2018 at the Carina Leagues Club, before moving to the Carina Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC); the latter with whom the Club was able to negotiate the use of for meetings and events such as our table sales days and train shows. During this time the Club also explored building a shed-style clubroom on the grounds of the Carina PCYC through leasing a small parcel of land from the PCYC, however this too did not prove viable for the Club. In all honesty, the Club’s appetite, budget, and capacity for building a new clubhouse from the ground-up was simply a step too far. Club executive meetings were held at various Committee members’ homes over the next few years, with minutes showing that the major topics of discussion were the Club’s ongoing viability and operation, possible clubrooms, maintaining members, and Club administration.

In April 2018, Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) – through the Queensland Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning – issued a public tender titled “Yeronga Expression of Interest: Information memorandum for co-location with Yeronga Community Centre”. EDQ had been tasked with the development of a site at Yeronga that previously housed the Yeronga TAFE (which closed in 2010). The site on the corner of Villa Street and Park Road, Yeronga had been identified as a key urban renewal opportunity under the Queensland Government’s “Advancing our cities and regions” (AOCR) strategy. Furthermore, as part of its 2017 election commitment, the Queensland Government had committed to establish a permanent home for the Yeronga Community Centre at the Yeronga site to ensure its continuity. EDQ issued the tender to “explore what opportunity may exist to maximise the investment benefits of the new Yeronga Community Centre, through planned co-location of other community organizations and/or not-for-profit groups”.  It was the longest of long shots, but the Club prepared a tender response for submission on 16th May 2018.

By late 2018 All Gauge had ‘stabilised’ an interim operating model that combined holding members meetings and staging train shows and table sales events at the Carina PCYC, running its layouts out of members’ houses, continuing to display layouts at the annual A.M.R.A show, and holding Committee meetings at the homes of the Club’s Executive. While allowing us to operate as a Club (just), this would not be sustainable in the long run as there was nothing to entice new members, and particularly family members. The Club continued with its search for a new permanent home.

On the 10th of October 2018, Dennis Remmer received a personal phone call from Mark Bailey, State Member for Miller, with the news that the Club’s submission to the Expression Of Interest – in being co-located at the forthcoming Yeronga Community Centre – had been shortlisted. With scope, details and timeline yet to be determined (this was only an EOI), there was nevertheless a glimmer of hope for a future permanent home that didn’t involve the Club having to build anything. Delayed by the pandemic, the project would take another 4 years to pass through requirements, negotiations, approvals, and government processes, and initial designs were finally tabled in mid-2021. Actual construction would commence in early 2023. A positive aspect of this long runway however is that All Gauge has enjoyed time to establish a great relationship with its future co-locators, including the hosting of a joint community Open Day at the then Yeronga Community Centre on 14th July 2019, and becoming involved in the annual Annerley Junction Fests.

During 2020, the PCYC advised AGMRC on redevelopment works they needed to undertake which would impact our usage of that facility, and so during December of that year the Club established a new arrangement with the Queensland Rifle Association (QRA) to use its spacious Cafe at the Belmont Shooting Complex for Table Sales for 2021 and beyond, and of course subject to the Covid-19 pandemic which by now was in full effect. Since then,  the Club has been using the Belmont location for its increasingly popular table sales, and plans to continue doing so for the next few years.

Rebuilding the All Gauge MRC

During 2020 and 2021, still at the height of Covid – while members were continuing to meet (subject to lock downs) at various members’ houses (where the Club’s portable layouts continued to be housed) and during which time several official Club meetings were held online over Zoom – All Gauge approached EDQ with another ‘long shot’ to see if there was any space available in unused government-owned properties. Amazingly an opportunity arose in an unused ‘gallery’ within a State-owned heritage listed building – the Diagnostics Block of the Yeerongpilly Animal Research Institute (built in 1909) – which was being used as the sales center for the Tennyson/Yeerongpilly property developers.

The Club was able to negotiate occupancy of the gallery room at ‘Yeerongpilly Green’ from 24th July 2021, until such time as the Yeronga project was completed. All Gauge was able to re-establish a proper clubhouse presence at Yeerongpilly Green, and moved its Midlands and Cylo Junction layouts, along with Club furniture and tools into the gallery room, to operate on a regular timetable, and hold members meetings and AGMs once again. With a stable (albeit temporary) home, All Gauge was able to regrow its membership (and original fees) back to pre-2017 levels.

During this time the Club has continued with its program of twice-yearly table sales events, initially at the PCYC and since 2021 the QRA Cafe due the larger space available there, and these events have continued to grow. The event now attracts sellers for nearly 60 tables (easily the largest in the region), and hundreds of interested buyers and the general public.

From mid-2022, the Yeronga project began to accelerate, and a sod-turning ceremony was held onsite on 17 February 2023, after which construction progressed steadily through to completion in November 2023. Aside from some storage areas, the AGMRC will occupy the entire lower level of the Community Centre, with over 100sq.m of floor space and modern infrastructure in its dedicated clubroom, as well as shared facilities in the main Centre, including a large meeting room space and industrial kitchen; both of which will be fantastic for future Club Open Days and joint events with our co-tenants. Once again, and for the first time since 2017, the All Gauge Model Railway Club has a permanent home for all of its activities, and can build and operate permanent large-scale layouts for the benefit of its growing membership and community.

The full Yeronga site (known as the Yeronga Priority Development Area [PDA]) surrounding the Community Centre will be a place of construction for at least the next few years, as other facilities are built including townhouses, retirement units, and social housing, but for now the Centre is ready for All Gauge to move in (coinciding wonderfully with the Club’s 50th year), and we are ready to build our new permanent layouts and be part of this fantastic new hub of community collaboration for the next 50 years.

Particular tribute is paid to the Club Presidents and their Committees, who kept the Club’s head above water since 2017, resulting in the great position the Club now finds itself. Our future looks bright – something which the Club’s original founders back in 1973 would no doubt be proud of.

Full List of Club Presidents

1973 – 1991:	N. Lavell	2007 – 2010:	J. Pollard
1991 – 1999:	J. Love	2010 – 2013:	J. Wilde
1999 – 2002:	J. Parnis	2013 – 2014:	J. Forrest
2002 – 2003:	M. Nicolson	2014:	P. Ball
2003 – 2004:	J. Parnis	2014 – 2017:	R. Parker
2004 – 2005:	G. Brown	2017 – 2018:	A. Petralia
2005:	J. Rosenberg	2018 – 2020:	B. Chiswell
2005 – 2006:	J. Parnis	2020 – 2022:	J. Bateman
2006:	R. Smith	2022 – 2023:	G. Ross
2006 – 2007:	C. Purcell	2023:	K. Dixon, D. Remmer