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About Adelaide Potters
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Adelaide Potters

Adelaide Potters is located at 84 Edmund Avenue, Unley. Adelaide Potters was started in 1949 by a group of women who volunteered for Red Cross. It has continued to grow from strength to strength since then. 2009 saw the Club attain its' 60th anniversary, this occasion was celebrated in style. There was  an exhibition featuring the work of past and present members which was opened on August 16th at 2pm by His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia. This was followed by a 60th birthday party attended by members and their partners.

The venue for the club is the lovely Unley Council Cottage at 84 Edmund Avenue. The cottage encompasses the studio and gallery, with workshop and kiln room out the back. There is also a well used raku kiln behind the wheel room.The facilities are always available for members to use at any time.

 Classes are held from February - December, with the emphasis more on adult classes than childrens classes, owing to the workshop being accessible only from the Gallery. 

New members are always welcome. See the 'Contact' page for further details.

Meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Monday of every month and there is a social event held every few months at which members gather to eat and chat. We are a friendly group and are happy to advise on any problems that potters may be having. Coffee, tea and biscuits are available for the use of members and visitors.

Adelaide Potters is open to the public each Saturday and Sunday from 12:00pm until 4:00pm. Arrangements can be made for the club to open outside these hours.

The facilities are also available for other groups to hire for exhibitions.

Current Facilities and Displays

Facilities:

  • Electric kilns of various sizes which are housed in the well ventilated kiln shed. Kilns are available for members to use after three firings with an experienced member.
  • A raku kiln which is only fired during the off fire season, and under strict supervision of experienced members.
  • Wheel room with space for drying, glazing and hand building, where classes are held. Members are able to access the wheel room at any time for their own work.
  • There is also a pleasant courtyard for working outside. The courtyard is also used for social events and openings.

Displays:

  • Pottery including functional and non functional pieces at very reasonable prices.
  • Leadlight and jewellry
  • Paintings by members of the club. There is also the facility for non-members to exhibit paintings. They should contact the Club for details.

The History of the Adelaide Potters

The first venue for the Adelaide Potters was in Grenfell Street oppposite the East End Market. The club was started by a group of women working for the Red Cross who were interested in handicrafts. They named themselves The Adelaide Potters' Club after Queen Adelaide, as the club was founded on her birthday anniversary, August 13, 1949.

Later, there was a move to Parkside when membership grew to 200 and the club needed larger and more permanent premises.

Fundraising was organised by President and founder Mrs Stow OBE, along with other members of the club. Groups made up of twenty members were given the task to earn 100 pounds each. Twelve months later a deposit was made on the property at 15 Liston Street, Parkside. The total sum raised was 2,800 pounds, an enormous amount in those days. Soon the property was freehold.

The club continued to develop and was a pleasant and well equipped place to meet and work. Classes were held, special workshops given and exhibitions staged. The vine covered pergola in the back garden was an ideal spot to share a chatty lunch!

The needs of the club continued to change so a move was made to the Unley Council cottage at 84 Edmund Avenue, Unley. The cottage has been developed into a very pleasant studio and gallery. Adelaide Potters has dropped the word 'club' from the name in recent times and is now known as Adelaide Potters.