PILLIGA POTTERY

Host: MIKE WHITNEY
 
There are a lot of famous potters around – Beatrix Potter, Harry Potter and now, Mike Potter! Mike tries his hand at pottery at a surprise package location, in the heart of Country NSW - Coonabarabran.

Pilliga Pottery produces some of Australia’s best white earthen ware and terra cotta range. It is located at the farm "Barkala", meaning Shaded area/place, 30km north of Coonabarabran, on the Newell Highway, in a secluded place in the Pilliga Nature Reserve.

The place started as a small family business in 1984 as a conventional pottery. Artisans, potters and decorators, developed a very unique decorating technique with glazes, and the pottery produces very fine products for both the home and the garden, a large variety of beautiful and popular pottery items, ranging from small ornaments to large outdoor utensils.

Pilliga Pottery is the only pottery in Australia to use a specialized technique of applying bright glazes and engravings to white earthen ware and terra cotta. This produces a stunning lead light effect, which brings their unique designs to life. For the patterns engraved in the pottery, artisans draw on Pilliga's surroundings for inspiration: flannel flower, bird life, banksia and other parts of nature are delicately inserted and colored in the wide range of products, from simple plates and cups to beautiful water coolers.

The Coonabarabran area is midway between Brisbane and Melbourne, and accommodations are catering more for people who enjoy a nature-based stop or holiday.
 
The place is building on its untouched 8000 acres bushland assets and setting up a new business that includes horse-riding, bush walking, mountain biking and the like. A new farmhouse is being constructed for guest accommodation, adding to the already existing Old Schoolhouse and Poet's Cottage. This will be the opportunity for guests to have a close experience with horses in pure nature surroundings.

It is a small but working farm with about a hundred heads of cattle, ten horses, two milking goats and, 2 pigs. These numbers are plenty to keep every one at the farm busy but not so many that the marginal soils of the paddocks can't cope. Horses are trained for horse-riding activities with guests.
Grey Kangaroos, Wallaroos and Red-Necked Wallabies regularly visit the paddocks, with the occasional visit from wandering emus, not to mention many other native birds and goannas.

It is an organic farm and the aim is to get the organic certification and sell their meat with the organic label.

The Pottery
The Clay
At Pilliga Pottery terra cotta clay is used, which means "baked earth" in Latin. Terra cotta fires a bright orange-brown colour and is the most common type of clay. The Coonabarabran district has many types of clay, ranging from black through to red and even white. All the clay used at the pottery is extracted from nearby land and processed at the pottery and goes into the production, which is mixed with raw materials from elsewhere in NSW. This produces both the white and terra cotta clay worked with at the Pottery, which gets formed into lovely shapes on the potter's wheel.

Clay is very easy to mine. You simply dig it out of the ground. However, if you want to use it in large-scale production with different glazes, it has to be refined, properly mixed and probably needs other ingredients added. This helps to control the drying speed of the clay, its stickiness, its smoothness, and other aspects that are important when working with the clay.
 
Throwing a pot
There are several different skills involved in making pottery. Mixing and making clay, throwing and refining pottery, engraving, painting and glazing, firing.

1. Pick out a lump of clay and cut it to the size needed
2. Throw it on the (electric) wheel 
3. Using water and your hands, shape a vase 
4. Take it off the wheel and allow it to dry (this normally takes 2 to 8 days for it to be leather hard) 
5. When leatherhard, the clay is ready to be engraved.
6. Again, it has to dry until hard and completely dry. Then it goes to be painted.
7. The vase gets put into the kiln for firing with other many items up to 1060C.
8. The firing process also burns off all the impurities.
9. The firing process takes 3 days: 1 day of bringing the kiln to the right temperature and firing. 2 days for the kiln to cool off before the pottery can be touched.

The end product is what's known as bush pottery because, quite simply, the pottery is located in the bush. Most of the flora and fauna displayed on the pottery are from the area, or broader from Australia. Julie, the engraver, is Australian and a history and art teacher. Her ancestors are Irish and she is passionate to link these elements in her engraving.

Painting technique
Normally people spray the glaze over the entire item to give it colour and seal the porosity. At Pilliga Pottery the glaze is the paint. The glaze is painted into the engraved patterns. The type of bright glazes and the firing temperature make the glazes and when they melt they look like lead-light. Glaze is also spread over the inside of all dishes that need to be foodsafe.
 
Clay & Sculpture Workshops
Working with clay is one of the most relaxing and rewarding hobbies a person can experience. Pilliga Pottery gives you the opportunity to create your own sculptures and works of art in its sculpture workshops. Equipment, facilities, clay and assistance are all provided. All you need to bring is an idea.

Workshops often consist of two full day sessions. Prices vary and bookings are essential.
For some workshops, an artist from outside the pottery comes, and the workshop is held over the weekend with up to 10 participants. Other workshops are individually booked when guests stay on the farm. Also schoolgroups come on a regular basis and have a demonstration and hands-on workshop for 1 hour.

Whilst visiting Pilliga Pottery, stop in to the Blue Wren Cafe for refreshing tea & coffee combined with lovely homemade scones, your Devonshire tea in Pilliga. Dishes are served using Pilliga Pottery creations.

The Accommodation
They have 2 separate cottages on site – The Old School House & the Poet’s Cottage. The Old School House is close to the main house and the Poet's cottage in the orchard.
You can stay and explore the local region, or just enjoy the pottery and farm - lots of local birds!

Pilliga Pottery is located on the working farm called Barkala and you are welcome to stay on the property in one of the unique and newly decorated guesthouses.

The property offers farm tours, horse riding, goat milking, pottery classes, bird watching, bush walking, stargazing or the chance to purely relax. Surrounded by nature reserves and the spectacular Pilliga Forest this is the perfect spot for you to be inspired or simply unwind.

The Old Schoolhouse
Sleeps 8
This is certainly one of the most unique buildings you will ever see…let alone stay in!
The Old Schoolhouse was built in 1995 on the architectural principles of Rudolf Steiner. It was the place where the farm's children received their elementary education by distance education and a live-in governess. Artifacts in the shape of artwork and barely visible paint smudges on the floor tiles still bear witness to this fact.

Raised on the trunks of eleven old gums, the octagonal Old Schoolhouse provides guests with an elevated living experience. Complete with views to all points of the compass, the awesome ambience of the surrounding farm and bush land can truly be felt.
It features a kitchenette for self-catered accommodation; an unrivalled, inspiring shower experience lined with beautifully handmade sculptured tiles; and a cozy living area. Barbeque facilities are available on the ground floor, perfect for a special meal al fresco with family and friends.
The main bedroom is upstairs on the top floor. It is light and airy with lovely views in all directions. The kitchenette and dining area, on the middle floor and wonderful views can be enjoyed from the balcony

The Poets Cottage
Sleeps 7
The Poets Cottage offers a relaxing and inspiring getaway and sleeps up to 7 people.

Nestled between the orchard and the lightly wooded goat run, an easel is set up for the artist to capture the dancing forms of shifting light that play among the trees.
An appealing combination of creative flair and skillful construction has gone into this spacious, earthy and ambient building. Relax and be inspired by the natural surroundings of this homely and comfortable house.
Featuring a fully equipped kitchen and spacious dining area, its open plan feel is warm and inviting. Stimulating natural timber beams and a hand crafted staircase give the living area the feel of a natural extension of the surrounding bush land. Cool in summer and snug in winter with a romantic log fire it doesn’t matter whether you wish to relax or be inspired, either way your stay will leave you with many lasting memories.
There are two separate cozy sleeping areas on mezzanine level. Generous living space with an extensive library for a relaxing read. A luxurious open-planned kitchen with handcrafted benches and brightly lit picturesque dining area and the comfy verandah offers inspiring views of the property's unique architecture and surrounding wilderness.

More Information
Pilliga Pottery
Dandry Road
Coonabarabran NSW 2357
Telephone: (02) 6842 2239
www.pilligapottery.com.au