Ivan Mcmeekin Pottery, Australia

Sturt Pottery was the third workshop to be established at Sturt, in 1953 by Ivan McMeekin. In its fifty year history, Sturt Pottery has had eight managers and over fifty trainees, many of whom have gone on to become well known potters or makers. The Pottery has continued at all times to follow a program of production as well as training. This follows the philosophy of all training at Sturt, which is practically based and is designed to give all students invaluable workshop experience.

Wood Firing at Sturt Pottery In the fifty year life of Sturt Pottery, many kilns have come and gone. The first wood firing at Sturt Pottery was held on 28th September 1954. Not only does this mark the inaugural firing at Sturt, but it also marks the first use of the bourry box in Australia.

Ivan McMeekin encountered the bourry box in 1950 while working with Michael Cardew at Wentford Bridge Pottery in Devon. Cardew’s kiln was temperamental. So in typical fashion, McMeekin set about researching the bourry box, to see how it functioned, and to see how he could improve its efficiency. McMeekin was to use the bourry box many times for a variety of kilns, which he built during his long teaching and potting career throughout Australia. It was indeed partly through his influence that the bourry box became such a popular type of firebox with many Australian potters and has gone on to be the favoured firebox in use amongst most Australian wood-firers today.

Ivan McMeekin was a significant figure for Australian ceramics. His research into Australian clay and glaze materials, which resulted in “Notes for Australian Potters”, is still the most exhaustive study of its kind available today. His six years at Sturt Pottery was an important catalyst for the development of Australian ceramics. He introduced the ideas of Leach and particularly Cardew to Australia, with the emphasis on the use of local materials for small-scale studio production.