Wheels is an Australian automobile magazine founded in 1953 by Hudson Publications. It was later owned by Australian Consolidated Press, Bauer Media, and Are Media.
Current owner Motoring Media Network acquired the magazine in July 2024.
History Wheels was founded in 1953 by Hudson Publications with Athol Yeomans its founding editor In June 1955 the publication was sold to KG Murray Publishing.Wheels founding editor, Athol Yeomas, dies at 91 Wheels 16 December 2019
Since 1963, Wheels has annually announced its Car of the Year award – although this was withheld in 1972, 1979 and 1986. The award was established during the editorship of Bill Tuckey.Tributes flow in for former Wheels editor Bill Tuckey Wheels 14 May 2016 Tuckey also instigated comparisons tests within the title.
By 1994, the magazine was owned by Australian Consolidated Press (ACP).ACP to pursue aggressive new titles strategy Australian Financial Review 18 May 1994
It was announced in September 2010 that Bill Thomas, former deputy editor of Top Gear magazine in the UK, would take over as editor in November 2010.
In September 2012, it was included in the acquisition of Australian Consolidated Press's magazines by Bauer Media.Desperate Nine flogs ACP on the cheap: analyst ABC News 5 September 2012ACP Magazines founded by Sir Frank Packer to be renamed Bauer Media by new owners News.com.au 26 October 2012
October 2012 brought the announcement that former Top Gear Australia magazine editor Stephen Corby was to become editor of Wheels, replacing Bill Thomas.Tim Lince for Media News, 11 October 2012, Corby jumps motor to join Wheels, influencing.com
For the October 2013 issue, Ben Oliver drove a Volvo S60 from Melbourne to Sydney along the Hume Highway, and Wheels launched the "Raise the limit, lower the toll" petition to raise the speed limit to 130km/h, as it is in the Northern Territory. The stunt received criticism from law enforcement agencies.In response to Wheels Magazine's speeding stunt Traffic Accident Commission 13 September 2013Car magazine drives at 130km/h in campaign to raise speed limits Drive.com.au 17 September 2013Police slam speed stunt: Melbourne to Sydney in 6.5 hours News.com.au 17 September 2013
Glenn Butler was the publication’s editor from 2014 through 2016.
In March 2017, Butler was replaced by deputy editor Alex Inwood.
In the February 2018 issue, the magazine was redesigned with new fonts, thicker paper, a cleaner style and appearance and a greater emphasis on hero photography.
In 2020, Wheels was included in the acquisition of Bauer Media's Australian assets by Are Media.
From November 2020, it was confirmed that former Motor editor Dylan Campbell would serve as the new Wheels editor.
June 2022 saw another change at the helm, with the shuttering of Motor magazine leading to its editor Andy Enright taking over as editor of Wheels magazine.
From June 2023, Wheels magazine celebrated its 70th anniversary with a trilogy of monthly issues themed around Past, Present and Future.
According to Roy Morgan, Wheels magazine's 70th year saw an increase in circulation of 40.8% to reach 290,000 readers.
In 2023, Wheels won Brand Relaunch of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
Wheels was acquired by Motoring Media Network in July 2024.Wheels catalogue entry National Library of Australia
In May 2025, Wheels appointed new editor, Trent Nikolic. (No citation available, but May 2025 is the earliest online article with Nikolic's byline.)
Editors
1953-56 Athol Yeomans 1956-58 Ian Simpson 1958-63 Ian Fraser 1963-68 Bill Tuckey 1968-71 Rob Luck 1971-87 Peter Robinson 1987-94 Phil Scott 1994-99 Angus MacKenzie 1999-02 Ewen Page 2002-10 Ged Bulmer 2011-12 Bill Thomas 2012-13 Stephen Corby 2014-17 Glenn Butler 2017-20 Alex Inwood 2020-21 Dylan Campbell 2021-22 Ash Westerman (acting) 2022-25 Andy Enright 2025-25 Matthew O'Malley (acting) 2025-26 Trent Nikolic 2026- Rob Margeit
References
External links