Albury Pottery was established in the late 1970s to supply pottery for the party plan company Cooperware, a spin-off from Faberware. Located in Hudson Crescent, Lavington, the pottery was managed by Rudolph Dybka until 1983, then by Ron Petch, who had previously worked as sales manager for Cooper Pottery, one of Cooperware's UK suppliers. By the mid-1980s, the pottery had four throwers and a further 5-6 employees, and was specialising in stoneware with distinctive ribbed forms and light blond glazes. In 1985, the pottery was sold to the NSW Government as a workers' cooperative, and Petch moved to Old Ballarat Pottery as production manager. In 1987, the Petch's bought back into the business with partners Pat and Ken Snape, moving to slip casting, doubling the operating area, opening a terracotta plant in a separate location and establishing a tourism presence in the Old Cheese factory between Albury and Wodonga. As the business grew it took on more partners and this proved problematic in a declining market for production pottery. The Petch's pulled out in 1991 and the pottery closed shortly afterwards. (CC BY NC SA Judith Pearce, accessed https://www.flickr.com/groups/1281707@N21/discuss/72157629392131982/, 15 October 2024.)A ceramic jug with a brown top, and an emu on a white ground.albury pottery, emu

Ray MOLONY Born Albury, New South Wales "Notes for Raymond Walter Molony: Raymond Walter Molony grew up in the Dandenongs, and Maffra where he went to school. He attenended Sale Technical School, before studying at R.M.I.T. from where he gained a diploma of pottery and technical teaching qualifications. He taught at Shepparton Technical College leaving there in 1977 to become a full time potter. Ray Molony established the Mud Factory Pottery in Shepparton in 1977 after purchasing, renovating and extending the old Kialla Methodist church, and building a two storey mud brick pottery. Two of Ray and Deirdre Molony's sons, Kevin and Russell, were employed during the 1980s and 1990s. Kevin Molony left due in the early 1990s due to the recession at that time, and Russell Molony followed soon after. Both competent throwers, with Russell making some creative slab work while Ray continuing to decorate the works. Ray Molony continued to produce studio ceramics at the kialla studion until selling the property in 2000, and semi retiring to Miepoll. In 2005 he moved to Pottsville New South Wales." studio potterySmall ceramic bottle with leaf designs in brown glaze made at the Mud Factory Pottery by Ray Molony.ceramics, studio pottery, ray molony, mud factory pottery

This item is from a collection donated by descendants of John Francis Turner of Wodonga. Mr. Turner was born on 6 June 1885. He completed all of his schooling at Scotts Boarding School in Albury, New South Wales. On leaving school, he was employed at Dalgety’s, Albury as an auctioneer. In 1924 John was promoted to Manager of the Wodonga Branch of Dalgety’s. On 15/03/1900 he married Beatrice Neal (born 7/12/1887 and died 7/2/1953) from Collingwood, Victoria. They had 4 daughters – Francis (Nancy), Heather, Jessie and Mary. In 1920, the family moved From Albury to Wodonga, purchasing their family home “Locherbie” at 169 High Street, Wodonga. "Locherbie" still stands in Wodonga in 2022. The collection contains items used by the Turner family during their life in Wodonga. Japanese pottery and ceramics had varying basemarks, particularly those designed for export. Some restrictions were due to requirements imposed by other countries after WW2. This Japanese type of china was advertised in the 1920's and 1930's. During the years of the American occupation of Japan (1945-1952), all exports from Japan were marked "Made in Occupied Japan" and after the occupation simply "Japan". This information helps to establish the provenance of items such as this toast rack.This item is representative of ceramic domestic items used in Australian homes in the 1920s and 1930s.A ceramic rectangular toast rack decorated with a cherry design. Each end is shaped as a shallow bowl and there are 3 upright dividers to support slices of toast. The cherry design is hand painted and then glazed. The bottom centre is stamped with MARUHON WARE, HAND PAINTED, JAPAN around a K in a circle.Underneath "Maruhon Ware/ K in circle/ HANDPAINTED/ JAPAN"domestic items, japanese pottery