Spring Fling 2024: Wild Abandon

The Wheeler Centre is pleased to partner with the Wilderness Society on this exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Environment Award for Children’s Literature.

In partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, listen to an exclusive podcast interview with celebrated writer Olivia Laing, interviewed by Sophie Cunningham.

Tony Armstrong shares the magic of his debut children’s book, George the Wizard, in a special school holidays storytime event.

Celebrate the launch of Next Chapter recipient Hasib Hourani’s debut poetry collection rock flight – a powerful account of Palestinian displacement and dispossession.

Celebrate unlimited adventures and the new series from one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors.

Bestselling children’s authors Sally Rippin and Anna Walker embrace their inner wild things at this special screening of Spike Jonze’s film adaptation of the classic picture book.

Following her heartwarming and triumphant victory as winner of the inaugural season of Alone Australia, Gina Chick shares her extraordinary journey through the weeds of grief and the wilds of nature.

Join multi-ARIA Award-winning country music icon Kasey Chambers for a night of whirlwind stories and rock-solid life lessons.

Three First Nations performers, Laniyuk, Nardi Simpson and Jazz Money reflect on connection, Country and resistance in a night of poetry, music and storytelling.

National treasure Noni Hazlehurst details her life on stage and screen and takes us behind-the-scenes of a brilliant career.

Share a meal with Virginia Trioli and hear about her lifelong love of good food, good company and living life ‘with a side dish of joy’.

Emerging writers run wild at this Spring Fling edition of our popular Next Big Thing series.

Renowned chef and Attica restaurateur Ben Shewry contemplates his culinary legacy and the inevitability of mortality with host Marieke Hardy.

The inaugural Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People shares her powerful story of fighting systemic injustice.

A sizzling lineup of writers and performers share sexy morsels of erotic writing and performance.

Join co-authors Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood for an exclusive dining experience that celebrates ‘the bounty of Mother Earth’.

Rick Morton exposes the fraud and damage wrecked by the Australian government’s Robodebt scheme.

Step behind the scenes with journalist and legal reporter Lucia Osborne-Crowley for a rare insight into the blockbuster trial of Ghislaine Maxwell.

Join Australian literary icon Tim Winton for a special event delving into his long-awaited propulsive new novel, Juice.

John Safran recounts his time squatting in a celebrity’s abandoned mansion.

One of our most daring and original novelists Michelle de Kretser discusses her new book Theory & Practice.

Welcome to the Shaun Micallef variety hour, where anything goes ... as long as it’s in praise of the latest addition to the Australian literary canon: Micallef’s new book Slivers, Shards and Skerricks