Steamfest Tasmania

10/03/2026

05/03/2026

Aveling and Porter from 1927 (Engine 11979) doing what it was made for in preparation for Steamfest: rolling flat the gravel floor of the big shed ready for vendors to move in.

Steamfest is shaping up well and there is real excitement in the air! Plus some smoke and steam!

March 7-9, tickets cheaper on line:

https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/steamfest26-30ospy

01/03/2026

Steamfest is back in Sheffield this coming long weekend from March 7-9 2026!

First held in 1994, Steamfest is a celebration of steam, its contribution to northwest Tasmanian rural and industrial history, railways and so much more. It’s a gathering of restored and operational vintage and historic machinery, the people that look after them, plus there is Tasmania’s biggest tractor pull, a working bullock team, the Tasmanian Light Horse, train rides, brass and pipe bands, food and family fun.

We are also celebrating 80 years of the Fergie tractor in Australia; weather permitting a tiger moth biplane will be doing daily flyovers; and there is wood chopping on the Monday thanks to the NW axemen. Checkout the full daily program in the attached photos.

Steamfest is entirely volunteer run, and is the annual culmination of a lot of hard work by about 300 people from Sheffield, across the northwest, elsewhere in Tasmania and even some from the mainland who have been working tirelessly for more than 6 months to put on a memorable, fun, informative, evocative and safe event! All proceeds from Steamfest go towards the restoration, maintenance and operation of steam era machinery, as well as ensuring the upkeep of the traditional skills needed to keep these beautiful machines running. One example of many that will be on display is the former Ida Bay Hunslet steam loco that has not run for a quarter century but is now undergoing final testing before recommissioning.

Despite ever-rising costs over the past 7 years, we have held our gate entry prices at 2019 levels provided you buy on line. To make it simple and flexible, if you buy in advance, a one day ticket can be used on any one day of the event, or you can buy online on the day you want to come, all at 2019 prices.

If you prefer to queue up, you can also purchase tickets at the gate, but you will miss out on the $5 online discount per ticket. Cash and card will be accepted.

Full details are available on our website where you will also find the link to buy tickets. But as a guide, an adult entry ticket is $20 online, but a family entry ticket is only $40 online, covering up to 2 adults and 4 kids. There are cheaper child and concession tickets, single and multi day tickets are available, while kids under 5 and adults over 90 get in free! We welcome carers, have accessible facilities and dogs on lead can come in too.

If you are travelling, we have plenty of room for RVs and caravans right next door with some facilities but no power available for $10 per night, thanks to the local pony club!

Here is the Steamfest page:

https://www.steamfesttasmania.org.au/

And here is the direct link to buy online tickets:

https://tickets.iwannaticket.com.au/event/steamfest26-30ospy

We look forward to seeing you at Steamfest 2026.

23/02/2026

🚂✨ SteamFest 2026 – Daily Events Programme Released! ✨🚂
The full programme for SteamFest 2026 is here — and it’s shaping up to be one of our biggest years yet!
From steam train rides and tractor pulls to blacksmithing, woodchopping, glass blowing, Lighthorse displays and the ever-popular Steam Parade — there’s something happening all day, every day.
🎺 Live music across the weekend
⚔️ Knights Templar displays
🚜 Tractor Parade & Rock Crushing
🔥 Steam Engine SLOW Race
🚂 Train rides running daily
🎭 Costume Competition
✈️ Tiger Moth Flyovers (Sat & Sun – weather permitting)
Bring the family, invite your friends, and plan your day with the full schedule now available.

22/02/2026

🎩✨ SteamFest 26 Fashion Competition ✨🎩

Step into the spotlight and show off your costume creativity!

🕰 Steampunk
🎩 Period Dress
🧚 Fantasy

👦 Junior Division: Ages 5–17
🧑 Adult Division: 17+ Years

🕧 When: 12.30 Daily
📍 Where: Next to the Men’s Shed

Whether you're rocking gears and goggles, classic Victorian elegance, or magical fantasy flair — we want to see you there!

Bring your confidence. Bring your creativity. Bring your SteamFest spirit.

Tag your friends and start planning your outfit now 👇

21/02/2026

Second railway line into the shed now completed.
Now to complete a couple of steaming bays.
It's all coming together for SteamFest 26

21/02/2026

The oats sheaves have now been cut and gathered, ready for our upcoming threshing display.
A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers who have been out in the hot sun loading the sheaves onto utes and trailers. Your hard work and dedication keep these traditional displays alive for the community to enjoy.
We truly couldn’t do it without you — thank you for your time, effort, and commitment

11/02/2026

Keep the March long weekend free because Steamfest is back in Sheffield on March 7-9 2026!

First held in 1994, Steamfest is a celebration of steam, its contribution to northwest Tasmanian rural and industrial history, railways and so much more. It’s a gathering of restored and operational vintage and historic machinery, the people that look after them, plus there is Tasmania’s biggest tractor pull, a working bullock team, the Tasmanian Light Horse, train rides, brass and pipe bands, food and family fun.

We are also celebrating 80 years of the Fergie tractor in Australia; weather permitting a tiger moth biplane will be doing daily flyovers; and there is wood chopping on the Monday thanks to the NW axemen.

Despite ever-rising costs over the past 7 years, we have held our gate entry prices at 2019 levels provided you buy on line. To make it simple and flexible, if you buy in advance, a one day ticket can be used on any one day of the event, or you can buy online on the day you want to come, all at 2019 prices.

If you prefer to queue up, you can also purchase tickets at the gate, but you will miss out on the $5 online discount per ticket. Cash and card will be accepted.

Full details are available on our website where you will also find the link to buy tickets. But as a guide, an adult entry ticket is $20 online, but a family entry ticket is only $40 online, covering up to 2 adults and 4 kids. There are cheaper child and concession tickets, single and multi day tickets are available, while kids under 5 and adults over 90 get in free! We welcome carers, have accessible facilities and dogs on lead can come in too.

https://www.steamfesttasmania.org.au/

If you would like to volunteer to help us run Steamfest, contact us via the same website.

We look forward to seeing you at Steamfest 2026.

25/01/2026

After some pretty major work on the smoke box and and axle bearings over the past couple of years, the Fowler ventured out beyond the streets of Sheffield under her own steam for her first proper road run in quite a while. Daniel Landry and Chris Martin were supported by Peter Martin, John Harry and newcomer Bailey on the way from Sheffield to the Henley-on-Mersey, to be held tomorrow, Australia Day, at Bells Parade, Latrobe.

The Fowler is bedded down safely for the night and will be in steam tomorrow. Please support this local event, there’s woodchopping, ferret racing, fashion, great food, drinks for the adults, fun for the kids, animals, rides and so much more.

I’ve attached a video of the Fowler in Railton earlier today, and will add a few pix in and short videos in the comments, supplied by Daniel.

07/03/2025

Why not combine a visit to Steamfest with a ride on Wee Georgie Wood at Tullah, running all long weekend and just 75 minutes from Sheffield, or with a visit to the Don River Railway (30 mins from Sheffield), running Saturday and Sunday.

05/03/2025

Here’s the program of events for the 3 days of Steamfest!