A hub for makers on the coast

AUSTRALIAN Pottery Supplies, based in Torquay, grew very organically from Prue Morrison’s passion for working with clay.

Born from humble beginnings – with Prue making pieces and sharing them on Instagram before friends and family began asking to buy her work – she later drew on her business background to start selling equipment and supplies, developing Australian Pottery Supplies.

In early 2019, when COVID hit, Prue — a single mum of two — needed to create a business that could adapt to the changing circumstances while still supporting her family.

Already running pottery courses for beginners from her home studio, the demand for pottery equipment grew as the epidemic did, as people wanted activities they could do at home.

Very quickly the business expanded from supplying home potters, to setting up commercial studios, to fitting out schools, TAFEs and universities, and now even retirement villages.

Only stocking high quality equipment, Australian Pottery Supplies boasts a 4.9-star Google business review, due to its supportive nature, advice and quality customer service.

Australian Pottery Supplies is now one of the biggest suppliers of local and international pottery equipment, shipping Australia and worldwide.

As the business expanded to importing kilns from the UK, it became clear that Prue’s home-based operation needed new premises.

In late 2024, Prue took over a new studio, shop and warehouse space in the Torquay industrial estate. The move allowed her to hold more stock of kilns and equipment, while also expanding into clay, glazes and other consumables for creatives and hobbyists alike.

Australian Pottery Supplies now offers a wide range of wheel and hand building classes for beginners through to advanced masterclasses (to come soon).

The business also runs kids classes, hens nights, corporate functions, Christmas parties and private tuition where, depending on the course chosen, customers can make and glaze their own work.

The classes range from three-hour introduction to four-week or weekend intensives.

Prue set out to build a genuine sense of community within the creative industry, particularly in ceramics — a space where people can try equipment, learn everything from the basics to advanced techniques, and come together to share knowledge and ideas.

The studio will soon introduce a drop-in program and weekly sessions for those wanting to grow their ceramics practice but who may not yet have the space, budget or confidence to set up at home — or who simply prefer creating alongside like-minded people. The light-filled space is also available for hire.

Prue has been lucky enough to be able to be a sponsor local and international clay festivals, such as Caly Gulgong NSW – which boasts the best of the best in the pottery world, both nationally and internationally.

One of the pottery gods, Keith Brymer-Jones — who is to pottery what Gordon Ramsay is to cooking and is the head judge of The Great Pottery Throw Down in the UK — was one of the potters Prue had the opportunity to meet at the event. Keith highly endorses the kilns Prue is importing from the UK.

For more information, head to australianpotterysupplies.com.au, or contact Prue via email at [email protected] or phone 0429 633 298.

Australian Pottery Supplies is at 5 Boneyards Avenue, Torquay.