Visit the Museum

If you’re travelling some distance to visit the museum contact us on 02 6036 3464 to ensure we are open.

Admission Prices

Adults $5 per head, Children under 16 years of age $4 per head.
Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $15.

We can cater for large and small groups who book ahead, with homemade morning tea, afternoon tea or supper, along with an introduction talk and a guided tour for $10 per head.

(We are closed on Wednesday, but will open for groups, by prior arrangement)

We also have a small number of selected Australian pottery pieces for sale.

Public toilets on site.

The Directors, Geoff and Kerrie Ford welcome visitors, groups and coaches to the museum and can be contacted by Ph (02) 6036 3464.

We look forward to seeing you soon at the Museum.

Introduction

The National Museum of Australian Pottery is the only Museum dedicated to 19th and early 20th century Australian pottery and is the culmination of many years of collecting and research throughout Australia.

On display are close to 1,900 pieces of domestic pottery from 126 Australian pottery companies established between European settlement and the end of World War I, (1918).

Amongst the extensive range of pottery wares, such as simple preserving jars, jugs, colourful cheese covers, beautiful bread plates and elegantly decorated water filters are a few rare examples of pottery made by the convict potter Jonathan Leak, who’s few surviving pieces are the earliest marked pottery produced in Australia.

Also on display are over 100 original photographs, showing the interior and exterior of many potteries, exhibition displays and portraits of the potters along with catalogues, price lists and numerous old advertisements.

The Collection represents in many ways the struggle, courage and determination of many of our early potters who, often under difficult circumstances, produced basic and decorative domestic pottery, frequently with spectacular results.

Visitors have a unique opportunity to further their knowledge and appreciation of our early Australian pottery heritage.

So come and spend some quality time at Holbrook in the National Museum of Australian Pottery with Geoff and Kerrie Ford.

A piece from the collection

This coloured salt glazed jardiniere decorated with rose leaves was made by Charles Courtland at Courtland and Pedersen Pottery Belmont WA, Courtland learnt the technique from Thomas Stevens while working at Mashman Brothers Pottery Sydney c. 1905 and is impressed 'SPW' (Sydney Pottery Works).

The Friends of NMAP Inc. get together at the Museum four times a year.

At the Friends meeting in November the winning piece was this coloured salt glazed jardiniere decorated with a sprig of Gum, Rose and Blackberry leaves, made by Thomas Stevens while working at the Mashman Brothers Pottery in the mid 1890s, it is impressed 'Mashman Bros. Willoughby NSW.'

If you would like to become a member you can find further information and a membership form in the ‘NMAP FRIENDS’ section.