Club History
The Greater Waikato Railway Modellers Incorporated, was originally formed in Matamata in 1965 as the Matamata Railway Modellers (MRM), establishing itself in large railway wagons at the Firth Tower Museum located on Tower Road, Matamata and subsequently being able to open for visitors. The Firth Tower wagons were condemned in 2019, its assets being placed in storage, while a new home was sought.
Prior to this the Club had previously moved temporarily to one of our members premises in Cambridge. Club membership grew over that time to include members from Cambridge, Tirau, Morrinsville, Hamilton, Huntly and Te Awamutu. This was reflected in a name change in 2014, the Club becoming the Greater Waikato Railway Modellers (GWRM).
New premises were eventually found in Cambridge and in November 2020, the GWRM moved into a local authority–owned building in Leamington. It’s future now assured, the GWRM is increasing in size and community presence, yet always aware of it’s origins, pays tribute to the members of the Matamata Railway Modellers who had the foresight to establish and maintain that organisation in both good times and bad. We do indeed stand on Giant’s Shoulder’s.
Clubrooms
In 2020 the Waipa District Council granted us a renewable long lease on the former Bowling Club building in the Leamington Domain, Cambridge 3432. This enabled us to ‘retire’ our large (10m x 5m) semi-portable OO layout to become the permanent centrepiece of our ‘exhibition hall’.
We also have three smaller (2.5m x 3m) OO layouts on permanent display, Middleton Coalmine, Christmas Snow scene, and a private ‘first layout’ used as a teaching aid for our younger members and visitors. Together with some small (1.2m x 600mm) OO9 and N gauge layouts to show railways in a variety of prototypes and settings. These smaller layouts are our exhibition layouts.
The former bar area has become a ‘workspace’ with many works in progress. It also houses our extensive library.
Community and Other Events
Here is a list of Community Events and happenings in and around the Clubhouse during the year and the kind of help we can offer.
With the Big Trains
Matariki [Night run: 5.00pm – 8.30pm] (Late June/early July),
Roll-on-Summer [Evening picnic: 5.00pm – 8.30pm] (Late September; night before Daylight Saving starts),
Welcome Santa [10.00am – 1.00pm] (First Sunday in December; Cambridge Christmas Parade 2pm),
Teddy Bears’ Picnic [10.00am – 1.30pm] (Final event of Cambridge Autumn Festival).
Visits and Help
The Club is Available to help with the following:
Retirement Villages, Resthomes, Community Groups: Hosting group visits to Clubroom or ‘show and tell’ visits to groups.
Youth groups: Hosting group visits to Clubroom.
Other Hobby/Modelling groups: Miniature Doll House, Plastic Modellers, Cambridge Christmas Festival.
Assistance: With Estates or ‘abandoned’ childhood models.
Advice: To parents/grandparents seeking Birthday and Christmas presents.