The Port Hacking Potters group began in the early sixties with 10 ladies after their pottery teacher, Dorothy Hope, moved to Port Macquarie. They held their first meeting in February 1962 and elected office bearers, drafted a constitution and invited Dorothy Hope to become the Patron of the group. Following is an abstract from the record of that historic meeting:
"The first meeting was held at 34 Caronia Ave, Cronulla, on Tuesday 6 February, 1962 at 1:00pm. Mrs Heather Beresford convened the meeting for the purpose of forming a pottery group. Ladies present were Mrs Earl, Schumack, Witherspoon, Newson, Barriskill, Ovad, Heather (Madeleine), Haywood, Walker (Betty) and Beresford (Heather).
It was suggested that the first duty was to elect a chairman. The officers selected for the ensuing year were President Mrs Walker, Secretary/Treasurer Mrs Bereford, Publicity Officer Mrs Heather. It was resolved that subscriptions would be 10/- (shillings) per annum, paid at the annual Meeting in February and 1/- per meeting irrespective of attendance. It was agreed to alternate places of meeting to enable members to seek new ideas from each other. Meetings would be held each month on the 1st Tuesday with the hours being 1pm to 3pm. It was unanimously agreed that they call themselves “Studio Potters”. It was also agreed that the group should consist of the original foundation members and any Studio and Advanced Technical college students who were interested in the advancement of all branches of pottery.
Mrs Haywood offered to open her property for the benefit of student potters to bring their equipment and work on pots etc every Tuesday from 11am till 3pm. Mrs Heather kindly offered to store and fire pots left at her home. It was decided that the Secretary was to write and ask Mrs Dorothy Hope if she would honour the group by accepting the nomination of Patroness.
The president read a draft of a suggested constitution. This was to be brought up at a future meeting. Future meeting places were arranged, the ladies proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Beresford and congratulations were offered to the Office Bearers.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and at 1.30pm declared the meeting closed.”
Today the group continues using the same office bearer structure and a revised constitution. Members pay an annual fee and can become exhibiting members when they present their work to a selection committee.
Between 1962 and 1968, the group began a series of visits to potteries and workshops. In 1968, started to hold monthly meetings at the Cronulla School of Arts. From that time on meetings have been held in the upstairs rooms on the first Wednesday of each month starting at 6.30pm.
The Port Hacking Potters Group has amassed a permanent collection of pots from well known potters such as Peter Travis, Peter Rushforth and Shiga Shigeo to name a few. The group has an extensive collection of fine pottery books and some pottery equipment, all housed in storage areas in the Cronulla School of Arts.
From the inception of the group, the members have held a National competition and exhibition of pottery works encouraging national and international potters to enter. Students also have a place in the competition. Part of the proceeds from these events have been donated to a local charity. Currently our charity of choice is the local Assistance Dogs Australia, for whom we also donate dog bowls made by members.
In the early 70’s, the Port Hacking Potters Group became affiliated with the Sutherland Shire Arts Council and in 1980 they began holding monthly exhibitions in a Council owned cottage in Belmont Street in Sutherland. In 1991, when the cottage was no longer available the exhibitions were moved to the old Baby Health Centre at Engadine owned by the Council. The exhibitions were held fortnightly and this ceased in 2000 when the cottage was resumed by the Council.
The Port Hacking Potters Group have held regular exhibitions at a variety of venues including schools, Sutherland Shire functions, Cronulla Spring Fair, Cronulla School of Arts Foyer and more recently have undertaken market stalls at Ramsgate and Bundeena.
Since 1997 the Port Hacking Potters Group has held various exhibitions at the Sutherland Shire Council’s Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Art Centre. These exhibitions have included celebrations for the opening of the Hazelhurst Centre and other special birthday celebrations. From 2002, the Port Hacking Potters Group has held the national exhibition and competition every two years at Hazelhurst. The potters contributed to the setting up of the, Hazelhurst Arts Centre pottery studio and as with other local art groups now have limited access for members to use the studio every Sunday afternoon for three hours at a nominal cost.
The Port Hacking Potters Group is one of the longest running pottery groups in New South Wales. Sadly in 2009, the Sutherland Shire Arts Council ceased to exist but they did give a grant of $1000 to the Port Hacking Potters Group to be donated to Gymea TAFE students over the next five years for an end of year prize. In addition to this the Group donates a prize and a free membership to be allocated to a Ceramics student at the discretion of the staff.
In 2010 the Port Hacking Potters Group developed a promotional flyer and a BLOG site to widen reach of the members of the group. It now also has a Facebook page and Instagram account.
A 50th Anniversary celebration lunch was held in Sutherland in 2012 which saw past members travelling across the State to attend. Enid Kirton, an early member, now Life Member, gave an interesting talk about the early days.
The Group continued to hold a National Competition and Exhibition every two years at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre and Gallery, Gymea. See tab above for images from the 50th Competition held in 2018. We had hoped to hold the 51st in 2020, however due to the Covid-19 pandemic this was postponed and in 2022 a Members Only Exhibition was held in the Broadhurst Gallery at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre from 29 April to 10 May 2022.
2020 saw the publication of a 96 page book of our history with over 200 photographs, that records the vitality and growth of the
Group from its foundation in 1962 to the present day.
PHPG was established at a key point in time in the development of Australian pottery and its history reflects the experimentation and technological change in the world of ceramics over six decades. The extensive archival material of photographs, newsletters, newspaper articles, and catalogues traces the Group’s contribution to these developments through activities such as workshops, conferences and the influence of the PHPG National Exhibition and Competition which has been felt widely since 1962.
The book reflects local history such as its contribution to
the establishment of Hazelhurst Arts Centre but also marks the strong links
PHPG has established with the wider pottery community, both nationally and
internationally.
In the Foreword two renowned potters, Merran Esson and Susie
McMeekin, give their thoughts on the influence of Port Hacking Potters Group on
the ceramics scene over six decades of competitions and
exhibitions and through the energy brought by its enthusiastic members striving
for professionalism and excellence in this field.
