Ahead of its 15th birthday in 2025, The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne is looking to the future with the announcement of a matched gifting campaign supported by the organisation’s original patrons, Maureen and Tony Wheeler.
The Lonely Planet founders have further cemented their support for the beloved institution with a generous pledge to match all donations made to The Wheeler Centre, up to a total of $1 million.
The matched gifting campaign comes as The Wheeler Centre commemorates 15 years as Melbourne’s home for writers, readers and thinkers. 2025 will see yet another slate of blockbuster programming, with additional celebratory events and an expanded public offering in honour of the milestone.
“As founding donors, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling and its ability to connect us all. Writing and words can profoundly shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us,” said Maureen and Tony Wheeler.”
“Pledging to this campaign has been how we have sought to invest in a future where the benefits of Books, Writing and Ideas are shared more widely. We warmly invite you to join this community by donating, ensuring everyone has access to the rich diversity of ideas and stories that shape our identity,” they said.
Chair of The Wheeler Centre, Kate Torney spoke of the Centre’s plans to be a world-leading home of storytelling: “We are so grateful to Maureen and Tony for getting behind this campaign and for their ongoing vision and generosity,” she said.
“This pledge will be transformational and will help the Centre drive excellence in the literary arts and grow a community that values big ideas. We want to see our writers, speakers and storytellers succeed on the international stage with Australian works and present the very best of the world’s storytellers right here,” said Torney.
“The Wheeler Centre’s success has grown from Maureen and Tony’s dedication to books, writing and ideas and we are so thankful for their continued generosity and investment in its future. After 15 remarkable years the Centre is preparing for an exciting next chapter,” said Erin Vincent, CEO, The Wheeler Centre.
“With an ambitious three-year plan, we will evolve into a smarter, brighter storytelling hub. Through bold conversations, we will build connection and understanding and expand our programs to more communities.”
Born from Melbourne’s status as the country’s original UNESCO City of Literature, The Wheeler Centre remains the only organisation of its kind in Australia. Tony and Maureen Wheeler were integral to the Centre’s inception, providing a foundational gift that enabled The Wheeler Centre to open its doors in 2010. In the years since, the pair have remained tireless advocates for the Centre’s ambitions, sharing in its enthusiasm for Victoria’s literary culture.
The Wheelers’ renewed support will pledge up to an additional $1 million, matching dollar for dollar all donations made to The Wheeler Centre from today through to the end of 2027. As a non-profit entity, The Wheeler Centre is seeking public donations in aid of its continued efforts to provide a vibrant and inclusive hub for storytelling, conversations and big ideas.
With year-round public programming The Wheeler Centre has served as a place to gather, connect and engage both in person and online. Over the years, the Centre has played host to some of the world’s brightest minds, including the likes of Bonnie Garmus, Roxane Gay, Geraldine Brooks, A. C. Grayling, Jonathan Franzen, Richard Flanagan, Helen Garner, Bruce Pascoe, Paul Kelly, Julia Gillard and many more authors, artists, creatives, critics and change-makers.
Across its programming, the Centre has also provided critical professional development support for local creatives, championing early career writers via their Hot Desk Fellowships and Next Chapter programs amongst broader mentorships, workshops and industry events.
The Wheeler Centre routinely partners with resident organisations like Blak & Bright, Emerging Writers’ Festival, Melbourne Writers Festival and PEN Melbourne. Early details of The Wheeler Centre’s 15th anniversary programming will be announced next month.
For more information about The Wheeler Centre’s matched gifting campaign and programming, visit: www.wheelercentre.com for details.
Image: Tony and Maureen Wheeler – photo by Hashem McAdam