Pottery Factory Cont.Bendigo - Victoria - Australia. We met Rob, the potter. He began his trade when he was 8 yrs old. His grandfather taught him in the old way, the technique of factory potting, in his Sheparton studio. Rob's Grandfather lined him up with many pieces of weighed clay, and he worked his way through these every day. What a great apprenticeship.
Rob has been working here for 8 years now, RH is his signature on the bottom of the plates etc. His work is beautiful. He is a very friendly fellow and obviusly loves what he does. We enjoyed talking to him and asking him questions. He can make, I think he said, 40 plates a day. Made two, deftly, while we were there and showed us each step, from the weighed piece of clay, to shaping the plate, putting the Bendigo stamp in the middle and the pretty pattern around that.
They use clay from Ballarat, and add their special stuff to it. The clay is so smooth and clean. When the item has been made, it is left to dry on racks for 2 days, then put into the kiln.
The pottery designs have changed slightly over the years. I have some pieces that I have been collecting over the years, and it is different again, beautiful colors now. The green and brown line is really nice and my fav.
Bendigo 
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