History of the Gunnedah Pottery Club
The club was established in June 1975 when a group of Gunnedah potters met at the old Gunnedah Showground poultry shed – now the site of the current basketball stadium – to form what would be the Gunnedah Pottery Club.
From this first meeting, Mrs Charmian Bailey was elected president, Mrs Thomson as vice president and Mrs Mary Darling as secretary-treasurer.
A copy of the minutes from the first Gunnedah Pottery Club meeting on 12.6.1975.
Through the club member’s own generosity and fundraising through raffles and stalls, they were able to acquire the initial funds required to rent and fill the space, including two kick-wheels, work tables (one of which was Mary Darling’s dining table – which the club still uses today), and eventually a kiln.
The first kiln was a double-chamber, oil-fired natural draft kiln built by local potter Jim Simson. Jim conducted the first firing in the newly built kiln on September 13, 1975, successfully firing 100 pots.
Growth and Changes Over the Years
In February 1976, Pat Tobin joined the Gunnedah Pottery Club. Pat is a life member (presented in 2015) and has been a generous teacher to many eager students over the years. Her wisdom, generosity and experience has been honoured through the naming of the current Gunnedah Pottery Club building ‘The Pat Tobin Shed’.
On August 12, 1977, a raku firing was conducted at the rear of Lionel Walters’ newly acquired gallery in Conadilly Street. Jim Simson conducted a tutorial on the kiln, and Annie Simson a children’s tutorial for the Gunnedah Pottery Club’s junior members.
In 1984 the Gunnedah Pottery Club needed to find a new workspace as the Gunnedah Bird Club had formed. Through bank and member loans, the club purchased a shed for $4000 from John and Edith Geddes, which is the current shed that the club still operates from today.
Also in 1984, the club purchased a gas Kamel Kiln for their space. This particular kiln was retained by the club for almost 37 years, until it was upgraded to a newer kiln in November 2021.
Pottery from a pit firing run by Tutor Ray Rogers on the property owned by Bob and Frankie Thomas in August 1985.
In 1987 the Gunnedah Pottery Club received a grant from the Crafts Council of NSW to complete a ceramic mural at the entrance of the soon to be constructed Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery. The mural was completed and unveiled in 1988 with the support and expertise of well-known potter Sue Moore.
Interestingly, in June 1987, the cost of insuring the shed for $15,000 was $74 for the year and the contents insurance to cover one wheel $500, one kiln $1500, one spray gun $150 and one airbrush $130 was $47.20 for the year.
The rising costs of materials and operational expenses is also evident in that in 1986 Cobalt Carbonate (an ingredient for glaze making) cost $60/kg. In 2025 that same product costs $274/ kg.
Revitalisation and Expansion
In 2006 the Gunnedah Pottery Club only had six members. However, since then the pottery club has grown and grown, gaining many more members and hosting events, fundraisers and developments.
In February 2014, the pottery club shed had a makeover with a grant from Gunnedah Shire Council.
Also in February 2014, the ‘Three Ladies Exhibition’ was staged. This featured works from three long standing pottery club members: Frankie Thomas, Pat Tobin and Pam Thomas. Between them at the time the women had more than 137 years experience in pottery. All three ladies were given life memberships of Gunnedah Pottery Club. Pam Thomas in October 2014, Frankie Thomas in November 2014 and Pat Tobin in July 2015.
Club life members, Frankie Thomas, Pat Tobin and Pam Thomas. In February 2014, the women hosted the ‘Three Ladies Exhibition’. Between them at the time, the women had more than 137 years experience in pottery.
The pottery shed after renovations in 2014.
In February 2014, the pottery club shed had a makeover with a grant from Gunnedah Shire Council.
The pottery club open day in November 2014.
Pots from the raku firing days in July 2014 at Pat Tobin’s property on Quia Road.
In April 2015, the Gunnedah Pottery Club held a fundraiser at the home of Geoff and Belinda Dawson. The fundraiser was held in conjunction with the Boggabri Drovers Campfire and was held annually up until April 2023. Visitors received morning tea on the Dawson’s property after getting a paddock talk on the Texas Longhorn cattle. Members were able to display and sell their pottery.
The Gunnedah Pottery Club has held numerous activities to fundraise over the years, including selling recipe books, running classes and selling pottery with commission going to the club.
By November 2014, an open day and exhibition of pottery was held at the Work of Art Community Gallery by members of the Gunnedah Pottery Club. Many people took the opportunity to experience different pottery techniques with three pottery wheels in action on the day as well as hand-building stations for people of all ages to try their skills.
Raku
In July 2014, many raku firing days were held at Pat Tobin’s property Weemilah on Quia Road.
Some photos from 2014 show how they were terrific days with plenty of great pots being fired by members.
Pottery club members taking part in the raku firing.
October 2023 – The Pat Tobin Shed
At the pottery club’s AGM in July 2023, a proposal was put forward to name the current pottery shed after life member Pat Tobin because of her almost 50 years of continuous service to the club. The motion was passed unanimously.
In October 2023 a ceremony was held to publicly mark the naming of the shed. The sign, make by ex-Gunnedah sign writer and a good friend of Pat, Mick Rowlands, was unveiled on that day.
2025 and Looking Forward
Currently, the Gunnedah Pottery Club has 32 members. In our workspace at the Pat Tobin Pottery Shed at The Gunnedah Showgrounds we have several electric wheels, a gas kiln, an electric kiln, a slab roller, a wall-mounted extruder, many glazes, tools and supplies.\
