When was Brio founded?

BRIO was founded in Sweden in 1884 and is still one of the top makers of premium quality wooden toys in the world. With their Montessori approach to their creations, kids (and parents too!) from different generations continue to love the clean, sleek, simple, yet creative designs of the toy company.If you are looking for a high-value toy, Brio is the answer. The toy-making company continues to carry on its legacy.

Are Brio Toys long-lasting?

Yes. BRIO playsets are made from the finest, hardwearing beech wood that can last for a very long time. With proper care, they can even be passed on to succeeding generations. Most families who bought BRIO train sets still keep their collection for display and use them as a Christmas village year after year.

What age range is Brio for?

Brio toys are perfect for all ages! The classic train labyrinth game is also loved by older children ages 6 and up. These toys are timeless and the opportunities for learning are endless. Even grown-ups collect them too.

All Brio toys are specifically created for your child’s development and safety while they are learning and having fun. They meet the legal standards of toy-making and their process of creation undergoes meticulous sets of evaluation to ensure top-quality production.

What will my child develop with Brio toys?

Brio toys help develop fine motor skills, stimulate imagination, improve their level of confidence, boost their social skills, and develop their decision-making and problem-solving skills.

BRIO Wooden Train Sets & Railway Toys Australia

(105 products)

The brand behind the trains

BRIO wooden train sets: a Swedish brand since 1884

BRIO has been making toys in Sweden for more than 140 years, and its wooden train sets are the reason most families know the name.

Where BRIO comes from

BRIO started as a family business in the Swedish countryside. Ivar Bengtsson made baskets, his sons moved the company into wooden toys, and they named it after themselves: the Ivarsson brothers of Osby. The company has been in the toy business ever since.

How BRIO became the name in wooden train sets

The wooden railway arrived in 1958 and kept growing. What began as a few trains and tracks is now a full railway system with bridges, crossings, cargo wagons, turntables and battery trains. Families start with one set and keep building.

1884Ivar Bengtsson runs a basket-making business from a cottage near Osby, in southern Sweden.
1907A painted wooden pull-along horse appears in the company catalogue, an early wooden toy.
1908His sons Viktor, Anton and Emil Ivarsson take over. BRIO is short for "Bröderna Ivarsson, Osby".
1958BRIO wooden trains go on sale in Europe.

Why BRIO stands out from other wooden train sets

One connected system

Tracks, bridges, crossings and trains are designed to fit together, so a first set grows one piece at a time.

Beech wood

The wooden pieces are beech, a dense hardwood that handles years of pushing, crashing and rebuilding.

Starts small, grows big

Sets range from a simple first loop to large layouts, so the same brand works from toddler to primary school.

Play that builds skills

Open-ended building supports fine motor skills, problem-solving and social play, and suits a Montessori approach.

Shop BRIO train sets for every age and stage

Pick a set by how much track your child is ready for. Smaller sets suit first-time builders, and larger sets give older children room to design their own layout.

Toddler's hand connecting pieces of a wooden toy train track on a timber floor

BRIO beginner train sets and starter packs

A beginner pack gives toddlers a complete loop to run straight away, with few enough pieces for small hands to manage. It is a common first set for children aged 1 to 2.

BRIO deluxe railway sets

Deluxe sets bring cargo, switches and extra track for children who already know how to connect a loop. They suit the 3 to 4 age group, when children start planning where the train goes.

BRIO metro and travel train sets

Metro and travel sets add themed trains and tunnels, so the layout starts to feel like a town.

BRIO wooden train tracks and expansion packs

Tracks turn a train set into a railway. BRIO track pieces are designed to connect, so you can add a few at a time.

Girl in a yellow dress building a curved wooden train track on a green rug

BRIO straight, curved and switching tracks

Expansion packs stretch a layout across the room. Straight and curved pieces make the loop bigger, and switching track lets trains choose a route.

BRIO bridges, tunnels and crossings

Bridges lift the track off the floor, tunnels hide the train for a moment, and crossings let two lines meet.

BRIO turntables and cargo wagons

Turntables and cargo wagons give the train a job to do: load, turn, deliver. Children who like to act out a job get a lot of play from these pieces.

BRIO battery and remote control trains

Battery and RC trains move on their own, so children spend less time pushing and more time watching the layout work.

Young boy sitting on the floor watching a train run around a long wooden track

BRIO battery operated trains

A battery train runs on BRIO track without a push, which suits younger children who get frustrated when the train stops.

BRIO rechargeable and RC trains

Remote control trains hand the driving to the child. They suit older preschoolers who want to steer the train round a layout they built.

BRIO action locomotives and sound trains

Action locomotives and trains with sound add noise and movement to every run.

Choosing a wooden train set

How BRIO compares with other wooden train brands

Plenty of brands make good wooden toys. This is how BRIO sits against the other ranges we stock, and when each one is the better pick.

Brand	Comes from	Best known for	Choose it when
BRIO	Sweden, 1884	A complete wooden railway system, plus battery and RC trains	You want a railway that grows for years and adds motorised trains
Bigjigs	United Kingdom	Wooden toys, including a wooden railway range	You want extra wooden track and trains from a second range (check each product page for compatibility)
Le Toy Van	United Kingdom	Wooden dolls' houses, play food and role-play sets	Your child leans towards pretend play more than building track
Playmobil	Germany	Plastic figures and themed play worlds	Your child likes characters and scenes more than construction
Character wooden railways (such as Thomas & Friends)	Based on a TV series	Engines children recognise from the show	Your child wants one particular character's engine

Compatibility between brands varies by product, so check the product page before you mix ranges.

The short version

If your child likes building and wants a layout they can keep extending, BRIO is the better fit because everything from the first loop to the battery train comes from one system. If they prefer pretend play, figures or a favourite TV character, one of the other brands may fit better. Many families end up with a mix.

Not sure which direction suits your child? Educational toys and building blocks are good places to see what holds their attention.

Young boy playing with wooden toy trains on the floor of a living room

BRIO train set gift ideas

A BRIO train set suits a birthday, Christmas or any day a child needs a new project. The pieces keep working together, so each gift adds to the last.

Child playing with a colourful wooden train on a curved track on a green carpet

BRIO gifts for toddlers and preschoolers

Start with a beginner pack or a battery train. Both are quick to set up and easy for small hands.

BRIO birthday and Christmas train sets

Pick a deluxe set for a big gift, or add a bridge or crossing to a layout the child already has.

More to explore at ALL 4 KIDS

Train sets and trucksMore trains for the same layout Vehicle play setsCars, diggers and road play Pretend playRole play for imaginative kids Educational toysLearning through play New Classic ToysAnother wooden toy brand Shop by ageFind the right toys for your child

Buy BRIO train sets online in Australia

Start with a beginner pack or add a bridge, battery train or action locomotive to the layout you already have. ALL 4 KIDS ships BRIO fast all around Australia.

Shop BRIO train sets Shipping and returns