Teapot display is now pouring

DON’T be late for this very important date.

The National Trust of Australia’s Ballarat Branch is presenting a collection of teapots, and a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party display, during the Ballarat Heritage Festival.

Chinese teapots, and others resembling animals, geometric shapes, houses, cartoon characters and fresh produce are being presented, some dating back 150 years.

Now on at the historic Victory House on Main Road, committee member Dinah McCance said this will be the only chance to see the collection publicly.

“We’ve managed to get together a lovely selection of about 70 to 80 teapots, and we’ve created the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party display as well, so children can come along, dress up as the queen or the Mad Hatter, and have their photo taken at the table,” she said.

“One of our members, Monica, has made a Cheshire Cat for us.”

Built in 1906, Victory House was originally the home of Chinese goldmine manager James Wong Chung, and his family lived on site for more than 100 years.

The weatherboard house was saved from demolition by a council vote in 2022 and is now under the custodianship of the Chinese Australian Cultural Society of Ballarat.

It is set to be completely restored, and a museum will be built in the back yard.

“There’s lovely history to be experienced here,” Ms McCance said.

“People may have read news about the house when it was about to be demolished, so they can come and see what it’s like before it’s restored.”

Volunteers from Fashions in Time have helped the branch set up the fragile teapot collection throughout the house.

The display is open on Friday, 19, Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 May, and on Friday, 26, Saturday 27, and Sunday, 28 May, from 10am to 3pm all days. Tea will not be served, it is a display only.