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Bendigo Pottery & Interpretive Museum

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You will find the Bendigo Pottery at Epsom, 6.5kms north of the Bendigo town centre, on the road to Echuca. This is Australia's oldest working pottery. Come and learn about traditional kilns and firing techniques, as well as hand throwing and decorating of ceramics.

The site has a number of old 'bottle' and 'rectangular' kilns for visitors to peruse, as well as a huge collection of older ceramic pieces. Displays include pieces from the late 1800's such as highly decorated ornamental pieces, and functional pieces. Records from the pottery cover it's operation since the early 1900's.

Visitors can peruse the gallery's collections, have coffe and bite to eat at our cafe, and buy some lovely ceramic pieces while visiting.

Bendigo Pottery

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Opening Times: Open: 7 Days a Week 9.00am to 5.00pm (except Christmas Day) Tours Self Guided Tour of Interpretive Museum daily 9am to 5pm, Groups welcome
Functions: Bendigo Potters Function Centre is a licensed venue which caters for all sizes of functions including weddings, birthdays, club and corporate functions, and Christmas parties. Enjoy your next function in the historic surrounds of Bendigo Pottery.
Things to do: Clay Play area in the potters' workshop for kids to try some hand building or sculpting Try your hands on the wheel; book a half hour lesson with a skilful potter. At the Pottery Museum you can view a large range of pottery produced on site over the years Discover how clay products were made in days gone by with a comprehensive display of historic production equipment used for making acid bottles, clay pipes, roof tiles, bricks and tableware Walk through some of the historic bottle and rectangular kilns and marvel at the glaze lining the walls from years of salt glaze firings Bendigo Pottery is thought to have the largest surviving collection of historic wood fired kilns in the world which includes 5 bottle kilns, 3 circular kilns and 2 rectangular kilns. All kilns are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
History: Stables - Built in 1885 for George Guthrie, the founder of Bendigo Pottery. Wooden Jib Crane - This crane was originally used to load and unload product and supplies on rail trucks which once came onto the site via a railway spur line. Original Moliagul Store - This store was relocated in 1975 from the historic town of Moliagul, home of the famous 'Welcome Stranger gold nugget'. Myer Verandah - The verandah covering the walkway past the studio potters was originally the facade of the first Myer store which opened in Bendigo in the early 1900's.
Features: Sales Gallery of quality ceramic Cookware and Tableware Interpretive Museum detailing Bendigo Pottery's history Heritage listed kilns, stable buildings and the original Moliagul Store Demonstrations of hand throwing and decorating by potters Clay Play area for kids Wheel Throwing Lessons - half hour, anytime or phone to book Our extensive amenities also include: Coffee shop for light lunches and snacks. Extensive gardens featuring a large display of roses and picnic facilities Public toilets including disabled and infant changing facilities. Ample parking for cars, caravans and buses Group Bookings for Interpretive Museum and Coffee Shop - morning/afternoon teas and light lunches - group menu on request
Site Description: Museum