Royal Austalian Historical Society Evening Lecture:
A Surprising Find: Thomas Ball’s Pottery
Monday 21 May
This talk investigates the pottery from waster pits associated with Thomas Ball’s pottery (c1801-1823) in the Haymarket. This is the earliest Pottery site investigated so far in Australia. Thomas Ball was a Staffordshire-trained potter operating a Pottery in the Brickfields (now the Haymarket) and produced a range of locally-made wares, a mixture of utilitarian items and decorated tablewares, as well as smoking pipes and marbles. The tablewares imitated Staffordshire ceramics while others were decorated with unusual green and brown floral hand painted patterns. Aspects of the kiln and manufacturing process are discussed. Thomas Ball’s ceramics are also discussed within the context of other pottery imported into the colony at that time.
Dr Mary Casey has been a heritage consultant since 1989, and is a principle of Casey & Lowe Pty Limited, one of the foremost historical archaeological consultancies in NSW. Dr Casey has excavated numerous early colonial sites, particularly in Sydney and Parramatta, and has a special interest and expertise in early Australian potters and ceramics.
Time: 5.30 for 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: History House
Cost: $10 members / $12 non members
