Attend

Meet Susan Orlean, Meg Wolitzer, Dhonielle Clayton, Jill Abramson and many more. Bring a friend for free! Offer ends midnight tonight ›

Read

Announcing the 2019 Hot Desk Fellowship recipients ›

Attend

Michael Pollan on the New Science of Psychedelics. Friday 19 July. Book now ›

Listen

Clem Bastow, Graeme Simsion and Yenn Purkis on autism, neurodiversity and writing ›

Read

Melbourne writer Sonia Nair on writing regrets, unsung gems and tuna eyeballs ›

Read

What’s plenty? What’s the maximum? What’s enough? How, and when, do we stop? Read Full – a new edition of Notes ›

Attend

Join the fearless author Jenny Erpenbeck as she discusses her life and work – and the dimensions of history ›

Highlights

New/interesting

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Right or Duty? Compulsory Voting in Australia

The Fifth Estate

Right or Duty? Compulsory Voting in Australia  /  Government

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Reading Your Mind: Neurodiversity and Writing

The Wheeler Centre

Reading Your Mind: Neurodiversity and Writing  /  Psychology & mental health

News
Promo image for Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowships 2019: Introducing the Fellows (round one)

Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowships 2019: Introducing the Fellows (round one)  /  New & emerging writers

News
Promo image for Working with Words: Luke Horton

Working with Words: Luke Horton  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Luke Horton

News
Promo image for Hot Desk Extract: self upon self upon self

Hot Desk Extract: self upon self upon self  /  Biography & memoir

Guest post by Shu-Ling Chua

Upcoming

Picks from our calendar of events

Running thoughts

From some upcoming presenters

Portrait of Andrew Sean Greer

People assume that comedy is avoiding the subject, but when it’s good it looks directly at it.

Andrew Sean Greer on comic literature

Portrait of Kamila Shamsie

If you’re not risking failure you’re getting too comfortable.

Kamila Shamsie on growing as a writer

Portrait of Akala

People get more upset about being called a racist than racist things happening. It’s really difficult to have an adult conversation.

Akala on racism

Latest news

Updates from the Wheeler Centre and adjacents

Wheeler Centre Hot Desk Fellowships 2019: Introducing the Fellows (round one)  /  New & emerging writers

Working with Words: Luke Horton  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Luke Horton

Hot Desk Extract: self upon self upon self  /  Biography & memoir

Guest post by Shu-Ling Chua

Our City of Literature Parliament: Maiden Speeches  /  Books, reading & writing

Dive into our podcasts with these gateway episodes

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Dog Days: Bob Murphy and Martin Flanagan

The Wheeler Centre

Dog Days: Bob Murphy and Martin Flanagan  /  Sport

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #1 The invasion of death

Better Off Dead

1 The invasion of death  /  Life & death

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #1 Aziz, Not a Boat Number

The Messenger

1 Aziz, Not a Boat Number  /  Migration

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Lindy West on Feminism, Fat and Fighting Trolls

The Wheeler Centre

Lindy West on Feminism, Fat and Fighting Trolls  /  Bodies

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Gerald Murnane

The Wheeler Centre

Gerald Murnane  /  Books, reading & writing

Alia Shawkat in Conversation

Watch




Listen to Housekeeping – an audio mini-series about voting, beyond the ballot box

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #1: Sizzle

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #1: Sizzle  /  Australia

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #2: ID

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #2: ID  /  Government

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #3: No-Shows

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #3: No-Shows  /  Australian politics

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #4: Scrutiny

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #4: Scrutiny  /  Government

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #5: Locked Out

The Wheeler Centre

Housekeeping #5: Locked Out  /  Crime

Some of our favourite notes

Note
Promo image for Reading into Dementia

Reading into Dementia  /  Young & old

Guest post by Melanie Joosten

Note
Promo image for The Case for Cartoons

The Case for Cartoons  /  Comedy & humour

Guest post by Oslo Davis

Note
Promo image for Live the Lie: how narrative is used in crowdfunding

Live the Lie: how narrative is used in crowdfunding  /  Internet, journalism, media & publishing

Guest post by Oscar Schwartz

Note
Promo image for Beyond Bars: two perspectives

Beyond Bars: two perspectives  /  Social justice

By Sophie Quick

Note
Promo image for Heat Waves: Something Good is Gonna Happen

Heat Waves: Something Good is Gonna Happen  /  Music

Guest post by Sam George-Allen

Note
Promo image for Putting Quarters in a Broken Machine: on the merit of literary prizes in Australia

Putting Quarters in a Broken Machine: on the merit of literary prizes in Australia  /  Awards & prizes

Guest post by Omar Sakr

Note
Promo image for I'm Only Sleeping: Stories from the edge of wakefulness

I’m Only Sleeping: Stories from the edge of wakefulness  /  Radio & podcasts

Guest post by Bec Fary

Note
Promo image for Jumping Off Mountains

Jumping Off Mountains  /  Biography & memoir

Guest post by Cheryl Strayed

Note
Promo image for Deny, Deny, Deny

Deny, Deny, Deny  /  Race & multiculturalism

Guest post by Santilla Chingaipe

Note
Promo image for Miranda July's Internet Interventions

Miranda July’s Internet Interventions  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Connor Tomas O'Brien

Note
Promo image for Radio is Dead: Long live radio documentaries and features

Radio is Dead: Long live radio documentaries and features  /  Radio & podcasts

Guest post by Kyla Brettle

Note
Promo image for The Tern

The Tern  /  Fiction

Guest post by Tony Birch

Note
Promo image for Loudest Libraries

Loudest Libraries  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Stuart Kells

Note
Promo image for Members Only: on politicians who write fiction

Members Only: on politicians who write fiction  /  Fiction

By Sophie Quick

Note
Promo image for Dear Lexdyslic Reader: why I love Roald Dahl

Dear Lexdyslic Reader: why I love Roald Dahl  /  Literacy

Guest post by Jackie French

Note
Promo image for Memories of an Island

Memories of an Island  /  Climate change & weather

Guest post by Xiaolu Guo

Note
Promo image for Do Not Ask for Whom the Pinball Chimes

Do Not Ask for Whom the Pinball Chimes  /  Life & death

Guest post by David Astle

Note
Promo image for What's the difference between a religion and a cult?

What’s the difference between a religion and a cult?  /  Faith, religion & spirituality

Guest post by Andrew Singleton

The Wheeler Centre is Melbourne’s home for smart, passionate and entertaining public talks on every topic. Across 180+ events each year, you’ll find some of our finest local and international speakers sharing their expertise, their imaginations and their ideas.

Find out more about us ›