About the LRRSA

The Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc is a non-profit organisation which was founded in 1961. Its purpose is to encourage interest into specialised railways, both past and present, and the industries they have served. These railways have been associated with a large range of industries, including sugar production, timber milling, construction, mining, electricity generation, tourism, water supply, gas production and explosives manufacture.

Meetings and tours are organised by groups in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Some details of the foundation of the Society in 1961 can be found here.

Benefits of Membership

Light Railways magazine mailed to you six times a year
Substantial discounts (usually 25%) on LRRSA publications
Discounts (usually 10%) on other publications
Participation in meetings and tours

The LRRSA will appeal to anyone interested in:

industrial archaeology
unusual locomotives
the social history of industrial areas
the challenge of locating and recording sites of abandoned operations (an activity sometimes akin to jungle warfare training).
research into industries or communities associated with light railways
mapping or photography of railway and industrial sites and relics
railways, towns, and industries in remote and rugged locations

LRRSA activities include:

production of a bi-monthly magazine, Light Railways, mainly featuring the results of members' research. It includes photographs and maps and subscription is included with membership.
tours to places where specialised railways operate or operated
publishing books on areas or industries associated with light railways.
regular meetings of members in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
a sales branch with a range of books on specialised railways
Email discussion group
Light Railways of Australia Facebook group
assistance with research into specialised railways and their associated industries and communities

Membership

Membership is open to any interested person and includes subscription to the Society's magazine Light Railways, discounts on Society publications and access to meetings of people with similar interests and assistance with research.

As at 2022, membership rates per-year are $48.00 within Australia for a posted magazine, or $27.50 for a PDF download; $A65.00 air-mail for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South-east Asia, and Japan; and $A77.00 air-mail for the rest of the world. The overseas PDF is rate is A$25.00. Surface mail is not available for overseas membership.

Applications for membership can be made online, or should be sent to the Membership Officer at the address shown below.

Meetings

Details of forthcoming meetings

ADELAIDE

First Thursday of February, April, June, August, October and December

At 7:30pm, 1 Kindergarten Avenue, Hawthorndene

BRISBANE

Second Friday of February, first Friday of April, second Friday of June, August, October and December at 7.30 pm.
Coopers Plains Library, 107 Orange Grove Road, Coopers Plains

Contact the Convenor, Bob Gough

MELBOURNE

Melbourne face-to-face meetings have been suspended, and have been replaced by a Zoom meeting, open to anybody.

Second Thursday of February, April, June, August, October and December

At 8:00pm, via Zoom.

SYDNEY

Fourth Wednesday of February, April, June, August, and October.

There is no December meeting as it falls in the Christmas period. Instead there is an outing earlier in the month.

At 7:30pm, Woodstock Community Centre, Church Street, Burwood

LRRSA Contacts

General and membership inquires:

PO Box 21, SURREY HILLS Vic 3127

New South Wales Division:

11 Mead Drive, CHIPPING NORTON NSW 2170.

South Australian Group:

9 Craiglee Drive, COROMANDEL VALLEY SA 5051

South-east Queensland Group:

365 Fairfield Road, YERONGA QLD 4104

Tasmanian Group:

11 Ruthwell Street, MONTROSE Tas QLD 7010

Sales and publications enquiries

P O Box 21 SURREY HILLS Vic 3127

Annual Reports

The President's and Treasurer's Annual Reports for the LRRSA are available for downloading as .pdf files. Click here.

Privacy Policy

The LRRSA's privacy policy is available as a downloadable .pdf file. Click here