Wheels of Wamboin was held every May for 11 years. Photo: Wheels of Wamboin, Facebook.
Yet another of the region’s grassroots car events has been forced to call it quits, with organisers saying spiralling insurance costs and loss of volunteer support have made the ‘Wheels of Wamboin’ show impossible to continue.
Event founder and Wamboin local Pete Evans confirmed on Facebook the 2026 show would not go ahead, bringing an end to an 11-year run that drew hundreds of vehicles – from vintage utes to tractors, trucks, motorbikes and oddities – to the small rural-residential community 16 kilometres north-east of Canberra.
“With great disappointment, I sadly inform you that there will be no Wheels of Wamboin in 2026,” Mr Evans wrote.
Cars from across Canberra and beyond attended. Photo: Wheels of Wamboin, Facebook.
He said the challenges facing Wheels echoed those affecting other regional shows that have quietly slipped off the calendar in recent years.
“Like many of the region’s car shows that have disappeared … there are a couple of common key themes,” he said.
The biggest blow was the withdrawal of support from the Wamboin Rural Fire Service, which had long provided traffic management at the event.
“Due to a change in the perceived risk of the traffic management of the event, the Wamboin RFS have informed me that they will no longer support the event,” he wrote.
“Without the amazing support from the Wamboin RFS, the show just is not feasible to run.”
A change in the Wamboin Community Association’s policy also required Wheels to secure a separate, event-specific insurance policy at a cost of about $1000.
“This goes against the whole purpose of the show to raise money for local charity,” Mr Evans said.
“We really should be raising funds for the local community rather than an overseas insurance giant.”
Adding to the frustration, he said, were reports of abusive behaviour toward RFS members working at the gate and BBQ.
“I was not aware of this, and I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone who was affected. I know that the abusers would not be true car enthusiasts.”
There had been reports of abusive behaviour towards the volunteer RFS staff. Photo: Wheels of Wamboin, Facebook.
Despite the challenges, Mr Evans described the event’s legacy with pride: boosting the Wamboin markets, bringing hundreds of cars “out of garages”, attracting more than 420 vehicles some years, and drawing in visiting attractions like the Shannons Big Rig and Super2 race cars.
“It was also sort of rolling therapy,” he told Region.
“Just like a men’s or women’s shed, many in the car community find this as a chance to socialise, give them a direction or focus and have a sense of pride. It gives them a chance to revive memories and show off the hours and hours of work they have put into their pride and joy.”
Over 11 years, Wheels made donations to local charities, including Possumwood, Camp Quality, and the Wamboin RFS, and provided a platform for local stallholders and community groups.
Various stallholders and food trucks were on-site, too. Photo: Wheels of Wamboin, Facebook.
Queanbeyan-Palerang councillor Ross Macdonald said the show would be sorely missed.
“We should never quietly wave goodbye to community events, and I have offered all of my support to the organiser of Wheels for any future activity which brings activity to our region,” he said.
Wheels of Wamboin is far from the first car show to succumb to costs and insurance pressures this year alone.
In May, the long-running American Car Nationals, which also included the Big 3 Car Show and the Queanbeyan Swap Meet, announced it would cease after 26 years.
Organiser David (surname withheld) blamed “exorbitant rising costs”, saying he would have had to “raise prices substantially” just to break even.
The two-day event cost about $30,000 to run, covering venue hire, insurance, medical staff, traffic control, and more.
Meanwhile, the major one-day Wheels event at the Queanbeyan Showground faced a $2500 traffic-control fee this year – only for the contractor not to turn up.
Organiser Greg Francis said public liability insurance was another “real killer”, costing nearly $3000 – more than double the previous year.
To survive, he said many organisers are shifting shows to venues that already carry insurance, such as Vikings Group car parks or the Hall Showground, or partnering with hospitality venues that welcome the crowds.
Wheels (different from Wheels of Wamboin) organiser Greg Francis says rising insurance costs are the biggest killer. Photo: James Coleman.
Cars ‘n’ Coffee Canberra, for instance, has found a stable home at Thoroughbred Park, and the National Capital Authority (NCA) has begun welcoming more car shows back to the Parliamentary Triangle.
Mr Evans noted that the region’s car community still had strong gathering points, including Cars ’n’ Coffee, which now attracts more than 1000 vehicles each month.
“The organisers there are doing a fantastic job for the car community,” he said.
While Wheels of Wamboin may not return in its current form, Mr Evans left the door open.
“Please keep following our Facebook page as you never know what may happen,” he wrote.
“In the end, we were a victim of our own success … We have provided memories and dreams for many.”
