The Albany Model Railway Association commenced following the bequest of the model railway collection of the late Robert Goodman, a local solicitor, to the Town of Albany in 1989.

Behind Robert’s practice in Peels Place in the loft of a garage was a large model railway. After Robert’s retirement he  moved house and constructed a model railway in the ground floor of his house on Mount Clarence. Many of Mr Goodman’s models are on display in a cabinet in the entrance room of the Club.

The Club’s first meetings were held at the Board Room of National Mutual offices in Aberdeen Street. The first temporary HO/OO layout was constructed in April/May 1989 for a display in the old parcels office on the Albany Railway Station to coincide with June 1989 celebrations of the first 100 Years of Rail in the Great Southern

After a major clean up of AMRA’s new premises in the Old Bond Store a track plan was drawn up and agreed by the members and construction commenced of the permanent HO/OO scale layout in April 1990. This layout was in operation by June 1990 for display to the public on our first open day. The opening in June coincided with an Australian Railway Historical Society’s excursion to Albany.

Towards the end of 1990 we started the planning of the layout extension into the rear room making the overall layout an “L” shape. Construction commenced in 1991 and operation began in conjunction with the Stirling Terrace festival in April 1992.

We have been open to the public nearly every Saturday since then. We also open Wednesdays during school holidays.

Open times are 1-30pm to 4-30pm. Our admission charges were $1.50 for adults and 50c for children from 1990 until May 1999 when the adult admission charge was lifted to $2.00 and children $1.00; which still provides terrific inexpensive entertainment for the family. Some 1000 people visit our display each year.