Don't take any chances - declare them - the only way old convictions like this can ever bite you in the bum, is if you do not declare them and Immigration later finds out.
I have a client with the same thing, 24 years ago, while in Australia on a working holiday, he got prosecute for being an accessory to a break- in. He said he went to court and got some community service. The AFP came back clear. I advised him to declare regardless. When he was visiting Australia, ( a few times over the last 12 months, it caused him hbuttel with the Immigration officers at the airport - he was questioned about his convictions and they would then let him enter after a delay. He kept asking me surely it would be ok to not declare them as there is no record - I insisted that he does even if only from the basis that there is now a record on his previous entries so he can not now change his story.
We just got an updated AFP clearance and it has the old convictions on it.
So in short, declare them or risk possible refusal of your visa or even cancellation years down the track once you have settled in Australia.
Tony
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