Annual Convention
The AALS Annual Convention is held each year at Easter, through a host Society. The convention is held in a different State each year and attracts large numbers of enthusiasts and locomotives from all over Australia and overseas. At the convention, various meetings are held and awards are presented.
The 2025 Convention will be hosted by Lake Macquarie Live Steamers.
Convention Documents
Pre & Post Convention Invitation Runs
| Date | Club | Further Details |
| Tuesday, 15th April | North Western Model Engineers Doonside, NSW | Watch this space! |
| Wednesday, 16th April | Illawarra Live Steamers North Wollongong, NSW | Coming soon! |
Awards Presented
Bolton Trophy
Best Australian prototype model
The Bolton Trophy is awarded to the best model of an Australian prototype.
The trophy is judged by the AALS Executive.
- The model must be a scale model of an Australian prototype
- The model must be a working model and operating during the convention
- Models built by a commercial or professional builder not permitted.
SSME Trophy
Most popular model
The SSME Trophy is awarded to the “Most Popular” working locomotive at the Convention as determined by a popular vote secret ballot, with all registered convention attendees eligible to one vote.
The ballot papers are counted by the Host society.
DNC Systems Technologies Shield
Best first attempt
Awarded to the best Engineering Model of any class, being a ‘First Attempt’, on display at the annual Australian Association of Live Steamers Convention.
Tullamarine Award
Best steam powered model road vehicle
The trophy is awarded in the spirit of promoting the building of high standard models of steam driven road vehicles in Australia.
Southern Federation Award
For outstanding contribution to the hobby
Nominations will close at midday on the Friday of the Annual Convention and should be accompanied by a CV of the person nominated.
Australian Model Engineering
Under 25’s Encouragement Award
The AME Trophy is an encouragement award for a model built by someone under 25 years of age. The trophy is judged by a appointee of Australian Model Engineering.
Entries may be any model or experimental engineering item which could be considered relevant to the skills of model engineering, these can take many forms, for example steam diesel or electric outline locomotives; steam, internal combustion, electric, hot air, Stirling cycle, stationary or mobile plant or road vehicles, boats or ships with any form of power, workshop equipment, jigs or aids, clocks and other horological or astronomical items, electronic, programmable logic digital and analogue controls or any other items which the judges consider relevant to model engineering.
Entrants must be present with their entry at the annual AALS Convention and be under the age of 25 years as at December 31 of the preceding year.
Judging takes into consideration:
- Age of entrant and skills relevant to age
- The ambitiousness of the project
- The workmanship of the project
- The access to workshop facilities
- The location to resources and materials
- The formal skills of the entrant.
Entry Form and Conditions of Entry are published in the January-February issue of Australian Model Engineering Magazine.
Warner Trophy
Best owner built steam loco running at the convention.
The Warner Trophy entry requirements are:
- The entry must be a steam locomotive that has been built by the owner.
- The locomotive must be running during the convention.
- A locomotive may be awarded only once.
The trophy is judged by the AALS executive. No entry form is required.
SASMEE Award
Best Non Steam Australian Prototypical Locomotive
The SASMEE Award – Best Non-Steam Australian Prototypical Locomotive, is awarded to the best model of a non-steam Australian prototype locomotive.
- The model must be a scale model of an Australian prototype
- The model must be a working model and operating during the Convention
- Models built by a commercial or professional builder are not eligible
- Each winner shall place a photograph in the accompanying album and arrange for the Trophy to be at the next Convention
- A locomotive may be awarded once only.
The trophy is judged by the AALS executive. An entry form is available on this site to download but is not essential.
Hugh Elsol Memorial Award
Best locomotive seen running on the elevated track at the Annual AALS Convention
Hugh Elsol championed the smaller scales, particularly those models which ran on elevated tracks. In keeping with Hugh’s philosophy the rules for this award are: The Hugh Elsol Memorial Award is presented to the owner of the best locomotive seen running on the elevated track at the Annual AALS Convention.
The award shall be judged by the AALS Executive; no entry form is required. Models built by a commercial or professional builder are not eligible. A locomotive may receive the award only once. The winner will hold the award for twelve months, have it engraved and guarantee its return to the following year’s Convention. If there are no suitable recipients the award may be held over to the next Convention.
