POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

From 1833 to 1852, James King (1796-1857) operated the Irrawang Pottery near Raymond Terrace, north of Newcastle; one of the most successful Australian potteries of the time, it produced wares as varied as wine demijohns, cheese pans, water carafes, ginger beer bottles, and hand basins. King was born in Scotland in 1796, but migrated to Australia at the age of 30; having worked in the glass manufacturing industry, he brought with him a quantity of glass ware and other goods which he used to establish a general store in Sydney. After receiving a land grant north of Newcastle in 1828, he grew wheat and raised cattle on the property which he named Irrawang. In 1832, King initiated a venture which would outlast his pottery business, by planting several acres of grapevines at Irrawang; the following year saw the first attempts at pottery, but poor-quality clays initially hindered the manufacturing process. Once this was surmounted, King set out to manufacture pottery items which were too large or utilitarian to be imported from Britain cost-effectively. Despite the constant need for skilled potters, King's pottery was well-received and was described in the 'Maitland Mercury' as "as well made as any we ever saw". King employed English-trained potters, both free and ticket-of-leave, and from 1844 used many moulds for his wide range of wares, imported from England. At the same time, King's winery also saw success, with demand for the Irrawang wine (sold in stoneware demijohns made at King's own pottery) exceeding production. King won a silver medal (first class) for his wines at the exhibition of 'Natural & Industrial Products of New South Wales' held at the Australian Museum in 1854. As was the case with many businesses of the time, the advent of the goldrush from 1851 was disastrous for the Irrawang pottery - workmen left their jobs for a chance at easy wealth in the goldfields of Victoria, and the high cost of labour and transportation meant that the pottery was no longer profitable. The pottery concluded its manufacturing activities in 1853, but King and his pottery were chosen to represent to represent New South Wales at the Paris Exhibition in 1855. In the same year, despite his winery remaining profitable, King retired and returned to England where he died in 1857, survived by his wife and son. Made in local stoneware clay at the Irrawang Pottery, NSW. In the 1970s an important archaeological excavation was made of the site, led by Judy Birmingham from the University of Sydney. The whereabouts of the site had been correctly speculated by historian Kevin Fahy. Birmingham notes (Aust Antique Collector, 16, 1975) that King brought clays from Stroud and Maitland, and used clay from the pottery site for kiln furniture, and that there was difficulty finding clay that fired at a higher temperature. This jug would have been made between 1844 when stoneware appears first to have been used, and about 1853 when the pottery finally closed. Harrison Jones, Paul Donnelly (and previous notes by Grace Cochrane), December 2010 References: Jim Bertouch, 'Kevin Fahy: An interview by Jim Bertouch Part 1', Australiana Society, Vol 32 May, 2010. Ford, G. (1995) Australian Pottery: The First 100 Years. Wodonga: Salt Glaze Press. Graham, M. (1979) Australian Pottery of the 19th and early 20th Century. Sydney: David Ell Press. Geoff Ford: Australian Pottery: the First 100 years, Salt Glaze Press, Wodinga, 1995; This jug was published in Marjorie Graham's 'Australian Pottery of the 19th and early 20th Century', David Ell Press and National Trust of Australia, Sydney, 1979. Judy Birmingham, 'James King's Pottery at Irrawang, NSW', in The Australasian Antique Collector, 16th ed, 1975: 76. Carlin, Scott, Terracotta Australis: Potters and Brickmakers 1833-1981, Newcastle Regional Museum, (undated 1980s); 'Irrawang Australia', catalogue, with essays, published by the Hunter District Water Board, undated [1981?].